- NAFDAC shut down 11,000 drug shops and arrested 40 people.
- Seized drugs included expired medicines, opioids, and USAID-donated supplies.
- The agency vows to continue its crackdown on counterfeit drugs nationwide.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its crackdown on illicit drug trade across Nigeria, shutting down over 11,000 shops in major drug markets in Aba, Onitsha, and Idumota.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the agency also arrested 40 individuals involved in selling unregistered and dangerous drugs.
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Speaking to journalists in Lagos, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, disclosed that the agency had evacuated over 77 truckloads of illicit and counterfeit drugs. Among these, 27 trucks were seized in Idumota, 30 in Onitsha, and 20 in Aba.
During the operation, NAFDAC discovered several disturbing violations. Among the confiscated items were vaccines improperly stored outside refrigeration, expired condoms, and controlled substances.
Shockingly, the agency also found USAID-donated drugs, including free Antiretroviral (ARV) medications, being illegally sold.
Additionally, counterfeiters were caught altering expiry dates on drugs that had expired in 2022 and 2023, fraudulently extending their validity to 2028. “People are taking these drugs, unaware that they are ineffective or even harmful,” Adeyeye lamented.
The seized drugs, valued in the trillions of naira, included highly dangerous substances such as Tramadol 225mg and Tapfradol, a banned combination of tapentadol and carisoprodol. Many of these medications were smuggled into Nigeria and were not registered in NAFDAC’s database.
The three-week-long operation was carried out with support from the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN). Despite pushback from traders claiming their businesses were disrupted, Adeyeye maintained that the agency’s priority is safeguarding lives. “We are not disturbing trade; we are protecting lives,” she stated.
NAFDAC also discovered that many of the seized drugs were stored in unsanitary conditions, including toilets and poorly ventilated warehouses. Some medications requiring refrigeration were found at room temperature, compromising their efficacy and safety.
Adeyeye acknowledged NAFDAC’s resource limitations, citing inadequate staffing and funding. She urged the federal government to provide additional support and tighten border security to prevent the smuggling of counterfeit drugs. “Our porous borders make our job harder. We need more manpower to stop these harmful products from entering the country,” she stressed.
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She advised Nigerians to be cautious when purchasing medicines, warning them to avoid street vendors and only buy from reputable pharmacies.
NAFDAC has vowed to continue its mission, expanding its operations to other states and working with security agencies to ensure compliance with drug regulations. “This is just the beginning,” Adeyeye declared. “We will not stop until the menace of substandard and falsified drugs is eradicated from Nigeria.”
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