The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has destroyed a large consignment of seized tramadol tablets valued at N91 million in Kano State.
According to NAFDAC, the 491,000 tablets of tramadol (225mg) were intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service, Kano/Jigawa Area Command, and subsequently handed over to the agency for destruction.
The destruction exercise took place on Wednesday at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, where the tablets were incinerated in accordance with global pharmaceutical waste disposal standards.
Speaking on behalf of NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, emphasized the significance of the operation in curbing drug abuse and trafficking.
“These tablets were part of an illegal consignment intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service on May 28, 2025,” Iluyomade stated.
“The drugs were abandoned by the smugglers after Customs operatives swooped in. We are grateful to the NCS for their vigilance and effective enforcement.”
Iluyomade added that the seizure and destruction of the illicit drugs highlight the importance of collaboration between government agencies in the fight against the menace of drug abuse.
“This exercise is a clear demonstration of inter-agency synergy aimed at safeguarding public health and preventing dangerous drugs from reaching vulnerable members of society,” he said.
The event was witnessed by NAFDAC officials, journalists, and representatives of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, including the agency’s Kano Zonal Coordinator, Kasim Ibrahim.
Reiterating the agency’s commitment to protecting the health of Nigerians, Iluyomade urged members of the public to report individuals or groups involved in illegal drug activities.
“NAFDAC remains resolute in its mission to rid the country of harmful substances. We call on the public to assist us with useful information that can help track down perpetrators,” he added.
The intercepted drugs, according to Customs, would have attracted a duty value of N91 million if they had entered the Nigerian market.
