- National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Borno officials seized unsafe medications worth millions
- The mission was initiated to avert a public health crisis after flooding
- Local leaders emphasised the importance of proper drug storage and public safety
A collaborative team from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Borno State Ministry of Health has found multiple neglected warehouses in the Gamboru area of Maiduguri, holding drugs worth millions of naira.
The warehouses, located in remote and unsafe areas, were discovered during a raid on Wednesday, September 18.
Borno health officials seize flood-damaged drugs
The team, led by Borno State Commissioner of Health Baba Malam Gana and NAFDAC’s Director for the North-East Kenneth Azikiwe seized the compromised drugs that had been damaged by recent flooding to stop their sale and distribution.
Azikiwe urged the public to report anyone attempting to sun-dry or sell the contaminated medications saying, “We are on an evacuation mission to seize and destroy drugs damaged by the flood in the Gamboru market. These drugs are unsafe for consumption and could pose serious public health risks.”
The raid was conducted by the directive from NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Christiana Mojisola Adeyeye, aimed at averting a public health crisis caused by the sale of flood-damaged medications.
Azikiwe stated that the purpose of the mission was to seize and dispose of drugs impacted by the flood, cautioning that these products were unsafe for consumption due to their compromised quality.
Gamboru leaders seek financial aid after drug seizures
Bukar Modu, the Chairman of the Gamboru Medicine Market, conveyed the market leadership's readiness to collaborate with the government to ensure public safety.
He emphasised that the health of the community is their foremost priority and urged for financial assistance to help alleviate the effects of the losses.
“We are fully prepared to cooperate with the government’s directives. Our primary concern is the health of our people, and we hope the government will provide us with the necessary financial support after this process,” Modu said.
Government pledges support after drug seizures
Baba Malam Gana, the Borno State Commissioner of Health, stressed the critical need for proper drug storage and assured that the state government would work to prevent unsafe practices from recurring in the Gamboru medicine market.
“Medicines must be stored properly, and we are committed to ensuring that the Gamboru market will not be the same again. We will take immediate action to ensure compliance with safety standards,” Gana stated.
Gana confirmed that the Borno State government would provide aid to business owners affected by the confiscation of their flood-damaged drugs, with backing from the Federal Government.
He mentioned President Bola Tinubu's recent trip to Maiduguri, during which the President pledged support for flood victims, including those affected in the Gamboru market.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured the people of Borno that they will not be left to suffer. Those who lost their businesses, including those in this market, will receive assistance from both the federal and state governments,” Gana stated.
Government issues flood alerts to 11 states as Lagdo dam begins water release
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) issued a warning to Nigerians regarding the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
Director General, Umar Mohammed, of the NIHSA emphasised the need for preparedness among states along the Benue River to mitigate potential impacts.