Jane Otu, South South
DAILY COURIER – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has successfully sealed over 11,000 shops and arrested 40 individuals as part of an extensive nationwide operation targeting the sale of counterfeit and substandard medicines. The operation, which has been in the planning stages for over a year, is aimed at eliminating illegal and dangerous drugs from the market.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, NAFDAC Director-General Professor Mojisola Adeyeye provided details of the ongoing enforcement, which began on February 10, 2025. The agency’s crackdown focused on three major drug markets in the country: the Idumota market in Lagos, the Ariaria market in Aba, and the Bridge Market in Onitsha. These markets are key distribution points for over 80 percent of medicines sold nationwide.
According to Professor Adeyeye, the enforcement operation is part of a broader effort to combat the influx of falsified and unregistered drugs that are being sold to unsuspecting consumers across the country. “We targeted these three markets because they are central to the distribution of medication in Nigeria, and they have become hotbeds for the sale of substandard and counterfeit drugs,” she explained.
The operation has been highly successful, with significant seizures of illicit medicines. In Aba, over 20 trucks filled with substandard drugs have been evacuated, while Onitsha saw the seizure of at least 30 trucks, and 27 trucks were removed from the Idumota market. The agency has also been closing shops in these areas as part of the crackdown. As of now, 4,000 shops in Onitsha, 3,027 in Lagos, and another 4,000 in Aba have been sealed.
“We are winding down our operations in Aba because we have almost completed the evacuation of substandard drugs. Our next phase involves inspecting shops individually to identify those that are operating legally and those that are not registered,” Professor Adeyeye stated.
In Onitsha, NAFDAC has completed only about 20 percent of the operation, with further inspections to ensure that only legitimate businesses, registered under the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), remain in operation. The crackdown has also extended to traders who, though genuine, are found to be operating without the necessary registration.
NAFDAC’s Director-General commended the National Security Agency (NSA) for its support in ensuring the safety of enforcement officers during the operation. “Three years ago, some of our officers were nearly killed during a similar operation in Onitsha. This time, the NSA provided adequate security, allowing us to carry out our duties without fear,” she said. The NSA provided over 1,000 officers to assist in the operation, with 400 officers deployed in Onitsha, 350 in Aba, and 250 in Lagos.
The nationwide crackdown comes as part of NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to safeguard public health and ensure that Nigerians are not exposed to the dangers posed by counterfeit drugs. The agency’s commitment to enforcing drug regulations remains unwavering, with the goal of eradicating the sale of fake medications and protecting the health of the nation.
With the first phase of the operation nearing completion, NAFDAC is now focused on its next steps to ensure that the gains made so far are not undone and that further illegal activities are addressed. The agency's efforts to rid the market of substandard drugs are expected to continue, with more enforcement actions planned in the coming months.
This operation is expected to have a long-lasting impact on the fight against counterfeit drugs in Nigeria, sending a clear message that the sale of fake and unregistered medicines will not be tolerated.
