Four federal agencies on Wednesday supervised the destruction of 58 containers of dangerous substance tramadol as part of efforts to nip the menace of the drug among the youths on the bud.
The drugs which were valued at N14.7bn were destroyed in Sagamu, Ogun State.
offficials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and those of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESEEA) watched as the containers were destroyed.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (rtd), the drugs were seized at different formations in the country.
Ali who was represented on the occasion by the Zonal Coordinate of Zone A, Mrs Kathleen Ekekezie said:
“The menace of such drugs in our society cannot be underestimated. Having caused huge negative impact both on the economy and human lives, it is imperative that it must be swiftly curtailed.
“I call on all and sundry to assist our officers and other relevant agencies by providing real time information at all times to help fish out the perpetrators of this negative act of smuggling dangerous drugs.”
The Director General, NAFDAC, prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, also said that the abuse of drugs in the country was a serious issue in the country.
Adeyeye who was represented by the Director, Registration and Regulatory Affairs Directorate, Monica Eimunjeze, said such abuse has far-reaching health implications.
She disclosed that 50mg to 100mg of tramadol was what can be approved for importation, adding that anything higher than that is subject to seizure.
According to her, many people were importing as much as 225mg, adding that this has dangerous impact on health.
A committee of all the agencies of government was constituted in order to ensure transparency.
