The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed expired, falsified, controlled, unregistered, and banned medicines worth an estimated N100 billion in a large-scale crackdown on illicit pharmaceuticals.
The agency disclosed via its X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday that the drugs were confiscated from the Idumota Open Drug Market in Lagos during a recent three-week enforcement operation.
Major Drug Bust and Destruction
The destroyed products were disposed of at the Lapite Dumpsite in Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State, marking a significant milestone in NAFDAC's ongoing battle against counterfeit and dangerous drugs.
As part of the operation, over 3,027 shops in the Idumota Open Drug Market were sealed during the first week of enforcement, and several suspects were arrested. NAFDAC stated that those found guilty will face appropriate legal sanctions.
Nationwide Crackdown on Fake Drugs
NAFDAC's Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, confirmed that the operation, which began on February 10, targeted major drug distribution hubs, leading to the removal of 27 truckloads of fake medicines from Lagos alone.
She emphasized that this initiative is critical to eliminating falsified and unregistered drugs from Nigeria's supply chain, ensuring public health safety.
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Call for Stricter Punishments
In a bid to further deter drug counterfeiting, NAFDAC has called for death penalties and life sentences for individuals involved in counterfeit drug distribution.
During a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Prof. Adeyeye urged the National Assembly to expedite amendments to the NAFDAC Act NI LFN and the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods C34 Act. She stressed that stricter punishments would strengthen regulatory efforts and prevent avoidable deaths, particularly among children.
Other Seized Counterfeit Drugs
NAFDAC's enforcement teams also raided Aba and Onitsha open drug markets, where they uncovered illegal packaging and distribution of falsified pharmaceuticals. Among the seized counterfeit products were:
Fake contraceptives such as Postinor-2
Fake Ampiclox GSK (allegedly sourced from India)
Vega Plus 100, Claratem-QS, and Maloxine Tablets
Hidden stockpiles of vaccines, including Yellow Fever, Anti-Tetanus (Dano), Measles, and Diphtheria vaccines
NAFDAC remains committed to safeguarding public health and eliminating counterfeit drugs from Nigeria's pharmaceutical supply chain.
