The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated over 100 truckloads of substandard, falsified, and banned medicines and narcotics in a sweeping enforcement operation across major markets in Lagos, Abia, and Anambra states.
The six-week crackdown targeted Idumota Market in Lagos, as well as Onitsha and Aba markets, where illicit drugs worth over a trillion naira were seized.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, who revealed the scale of the operation at a press briefing in Lagos, warned that if the intercepted drugs had circulated, they could have had devastating consequences on public health.
“What we have found could ruin a nation, destabilize a government, and reduce the quality of life of millions of Nigerians,” she stated.
It was apparent the dangers posed by counterfeit medications, especially for those with chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
According to a report by TheCable, the enforcement exercise concluded in Idumota and Aba on February 28, while Onitsha remained a hotspot until March 8. Among the confiscated stock, 27 truckloads from Idumota have already been destroyed, while 80 truckloads were evacuated from Aba and Onitsha, including 14 truckloads from a single warehouse in Osisioma.
Intelligence reports led NAFDAC to warehouses hidden in unexpected locations, including the plumbing section of Onitsha’s market, where extreme heat had already degraded stored medicines before they reached unsuspecting users.
Adeyeye also raised concerns over the narcotics seized, warning that they could fuel youth addiction, banditry, and terrorism. “With a large population of Nigerian youth below 40, the illicit drugs we found could take their lives and worsen security challenges,” she cautioned. She further disclosed that NAFDAC staff and police officers narrowly escaped an attack by violent traders in Onitsha, who attempted to resist the raid.
Despite facing threats, NAFDAC has vowed to continue its fight against counterfeit drugs and illicit trade, urging stronger penalties against offenders.
