OVERVIEW OF THE DIRECTORATE

The Investigation and Enforcement Directorate (IED) was established in 2001 to combat Substandard and Falsified (SF) Drugs, Unwholesome Foods, as well as other NAFDAC Regulated Products. The Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drug and Unwholesome Processed Food, a statutory body established by the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Food Act, Cap C.34 LFN 2004, which was transferred to NAFDAC from the Federal Ministry of Health in 1993 (Federal Task Force), is domiciled in the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.

The Director of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate doubles as the Chairman of the Federal Task Force.

In carrying out our functions, the Directorate has a unit of Mobile Policemen and two units of Investigative Police officers (IPO’s) attached to it. There is also a Legal Unit in IE from the Legal Services Directorate of NAFDAC.

STRUCTURE
The Head office of I&E is at number 10–15 Mobil road, Apapa, Lagos. There are three outstation offices in Asaba- Delta state, Kaduna- Kaduna state and in the Federal Capital Territory. The outstation offices are headed by Deputy Directors.

There are five Divisional offices in Lagos that are headed by Deputy Directors:

• Pharmaceuticals Division
• Chemicals and Medical Devices Division
• Cosmetics Division
• Food Division
• Water and Drinks Division

Units under the Directors Office:

• Cybercrime and Miscellaneous Offence Unit
• Legal Unit
• Public Relations Unit
• QMS Unit
• Finance and Accounts
• Administration and Human Resources Management

FUNCTIONS OF THE DIRECTORATE

• The Directorate is the arm of NAFDAC, principally responsible for ensuring compliance with the Agency’s mandate on regulatory activities.
• Coordinate enforcement activities of other Directorates, zonal and states offices of NAFDAC Nationwide.

• Conduct Surveillance/Intelligence gathering on suspected products/premises/persons.
• Carry out investigative activities and raids.
• Investigation of cases of alleged contravening of NAFDAC laws and regulations
• Collaborate with the Legal Services Directorate during arraignment and prosecution of suspects.

• Conducts destruction of Substandard, Fake, Counterfeit, Expired, and other Unregistered NAFDAC regulated products.
• Coordinates the storage of NAFDAC Regulated Products in the Agency’s warehouses.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders within and outside Nigeria in pursuance of the functions of the Agency in relation to the mandate of the Directorate.

SERVICE OFFERINGS:

DESTRUCTION OF FAKE AND SUBSTANDARD PRODUCTS

DESTRUCTION EXERCISE TYPES

Destruction of counterfeit, unwholesome and other categories of violative NAFDAC regulated products is carried out by the Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) Directorate of the Agency.

There are two types of destruction exercise:

1. GENERAL DESTRUCTION EXERCISE

This destruction exercise is carried out at different times of the year in the six geo-political zones of the country. Companies that wish to have products destroyed are required to pay the full administrative fee as stipulated in the gazetted NAFDAC Tariff Regulation which is hoisted on-line. This Tariff regulation also determines the amount to be paid by the applicant based on the type of regulated products to be destroyed. The type/class of regulated products also determine the mode of destruction of the products, which could be any or combination of the following methods:

• Burning
• Crushing and burning
• Crushing and burying (other products)
• Crushing and burying (fish)

2. PRIVATE DESTRUCTION EXERCISE

This type of destruction exercise is undertaken by companies that cannot wait for the general destruction. It can be done anytime the company is willing to have the exercise done.

There are two types of private destruction exercise, viz:

• PRIVATE DESTRUCTION AT NAFDAC’S SITE – This type of destruction is arranged and supervised by Investigation and Enforcement Directorate at the Agency’s site. In addition to the statutory administrative fee the applicant company also takes care of the cost of the logistics needed for the exercise and the night allowances of the I&E staff who will supervise the exercise. The logistics cost includes, but not limited to the hiring of destruction machineries. The payment for logistics is however paid to the government dump site utilized by NAFDAC for that purpose.
• PRIVATE DESTRUCTION AT COMPANY’S FACILITY ARRANGED BY THE COMPANY – For this type of exercise the applicant after paying the statutory administrative fee to NAFDAC, arranges the destruction site and the logistics, which should be in line with NAFDAC Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The company is also to pay the night allowances of the I&E staff who will witness the destruction exercise.

3. THE URL FOR NAFDAC TARIFF IS GIVEN BELOW:

nafdac.gov.ng/resources/nafdac-tariff/

For further enquiries please call the following:

Mr Obinna Iwuh – 07066397864

Mr Lawal Abayomi Kazeem – 08033433655