Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku Hands Over Expired Drugs Worth Over N50m To NAFDAC
By Asuquo Nuwak
Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku Hands Over Expired Drugs Worth Over N50m To NAFDAC
In a clear demonstration of the strong partnership between NAFDAC and the Nigeria Customs Service, the Customs Area Controller of Port Harcourt Area 1 Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, has handed over expired pharmaceutical drugs of a 40ft container to the officials of NAFDAC recently at the command’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt.
A press release made available to pressmen by the command PRO B. Aanee, said Port Harcourt Area 1 Command has intercepted expired pharmaceutical products worth over N50 million .
Additionally, the Customs Area Controller said the expired pharmaceutical products handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is for regulatory action and safe disposal, while underscoring the agencies’ unwavering commitment to protecting public health.
The Deputy-Director, Port Inspection Directorate, Pharm. Adepoju Bayo Raufu, who received the intercepted products on behalf of NAFDAC, praised the Nigeria Customs Service for its vigilance, professionalism, and sustained collaboration in preventing expired and harmful pharmaceutical products from reaching Nigerian consumers.
He gave the assurance that NAFDAC would immediately commence the necessary regulatory processes to ensure the safe destruction of the expired medicines in strict compliance with existing laws, regulatory guidelines, and safety protocols.
..mSimilarly, the Zonal-Director of NAFDAC, South-South Zone, Pharm. Chukwuma Oligbu, described the handover as a clear demonstration of the strong partnership between NAFDAC and the Nigeria Customs Service.
He commended the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, and officers of the Port Harcourt Area I Command, for their professionalism, diligence, and steadfast commitment to safeguarding public health.
Besides, Oligbu further called for sustained collaboration among security, regulatory, and enforcement agencies to strengthen efforts against the importation and circulation of expired, substandard, falsified, and unsafe pharmaceutical products across the country.
Significantly, the ceremony concluded with the formal transfer of the intercepted expired pharmaceutical products, alongside the relevant documentation, from the Nigeria Customs Service to NAFDAC for appropriate regulatory action and environmentally safe disposal.
Still, the exercise reaffirmed the shared resolve of both agencies to strengthen border security, protect public health, and ensure that only safe, genuine, and duly regulated pharmaceutical products are allowed into Nigeria through its ports.
Furthermore, Comptroller Atuluku said the success reflects the unwavering commitment of the command to ensuring that only safe, genuine and properly regulated pharmaceutical products are allowed into the country.
Indeed, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku said on June 22 2026, officers of Port Harcourt Area 1 Command, Shed 111, acting in collaboration with NAFDAC and other relevant agencies conducted a joint examination on a 1X 40ft container with Reg. No – MRSU 3199206, C NO 354, originating from United States of America.
The container was found to contain 606 cartons of Ibuprofen capsules, 173 cartons of Donepezil Hydrochloride tablets, 266 cartons of subvenite tablets etc with CIF Value of over N50 million.
She claimed that the interception of the consignment has helped to prevent what could have been a major public health disaster, adding that expired medicines poses serious health risk to consumers of such products.
Beyond all these, she warned unscrupulous importers and criminal networks that her command is “no go area” for channels of such trade on expired, substandard pharmaceutical products into Nigeria.
Moreover, she pointed out that Port Harcourt Area 1 Command remains unwavering in it’s resolve to protect the nations borders against importation of harmful and prohibited goods.
Accordingly, Comptroller Salamatu thanked CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and his management team for their transformational leadership, and his unwavering commitment to intelligence driven enforcement, inter – agency collaboration and trade facilitation, across the country.
In their response to the seizure made so far, some stakeholders who were in attendance during the event commended her leadership quality and
collaboration with them, while encouraged her to sanitise the Port Harcourt Area 1 Command for maximum productivity.
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