The Federal Government has recalled about 2.4 million bottles of codeine from circulation.

The move, according to the Ministry of Health, demonstrates the federal government’s determination to stem the abuse of Codeine containing cough syrup and other substances across the country.

The recall, which was effected by the Federal Ministry of Health, was carried out to withdraw about 2,405,724 bottles of Codeine containing cough syrup after a recent audit trail of the substance by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, while receiving the final report of the stakeholders committee set up by the ministry to address the worrisome menace, said: “The audit trail and subsequent recall of the substance, was part of the recommendations submitted by the 22-man committee drafted from a broad spectrum of the health sector to collaborate with relevant agencies.’’

He added that the recall was also part of pharmacy vigilance and renewed effort to actively monitor drug distribution channels and sanitize the system.