Nigeria’s Health Minister Isaac Adewole has said his ministry recalled over two million bottles of cough syrup containing codeine, news site Vanguard reports.Â
Mr Adewole made the comments while receiving a report from a committee set up to look into the trade of addictive cough cyrup following the broadcast in May of a BBC investigation.
The minister said the confiscated drugs were being held in the manufacturers’ warehouses.
“This is to further demonstrate the federal government’s resolve to stem the abuse of codeine-containing cough syrup and other substances in Nigeria,” Mr Adewole said.
Authorities shut down three leading drugs companies after the BBC investigation was broadcast.
The report found that thousands of young Nigerians are addicted to codeine cough syrup which the government estimates that up to three million bottles are drunk every day in just two northern states.
Taken in excess, codeine can cause psychosis and organ failure.
Watch the BBC’s Africa Eye report:
Source: bbc.com