In a sweeping enforcement operation, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down large warehouses and shops dealing in counterfeit and expired drugs in three of Nigeria’s biggest pharmaceutical markets Idumota in Lagos, Ogbo-Ogwu in Onitsha, and Faulks Road in Aba.
The agency, led by its Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the operation as a major step in its fight against the proliferation of fake medicines, warning that those behind the illicit trade would face severe legal consequences.
In a statement issued on Monday by Resident Media Consultant for NAFDAC, Sayo Akintola, and sent to Africa Health Report (AHR), the agency announced the sealing of over 3,000 shops at the Idumota Open Drug Market. During the enforcement operation, officials uncovered consignments of banned and unregistered drugs, including Analgin injections, expired malaria treatments, and high-dose tramadol. Additionally, 12 truckloads of falsified pharmaceuticals were confiscated.
Similarly, in Aba, a warehouse in Umumeje village, Osisioma Ngwa, was raided, revealing a large-scale repackaging scheme where expired medications were given new expiry dates. Machines used for altering labels were also discovered at a second location on Faulks Road, exposing the sophisticated nature of the operation.
At the Ogbo-Ogwu Market in Onitsha, officials intercepted 14 truckloads of fake and substandard medicines, many of which carried fraudulent NAFDAC approval numbers.
According to Prof. Adeyeye, the crackdown is part of a broader strategy to disrupt the supply chains of fake drugs in Nigeria. She stressed that the agency would not allow a few individuals to endanger public health for profit.
NAFDAC’s Southeast Zonal Director, Martins Iluyomade, revealed that advanced scanning technology helped identify counterfeit products during the Onitsha operation. He added that many of the confiscated medicines were not only expired but also fraudulently repackaged to appear legitimate.
With further arrests expected, NAFDAC has reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying surveillance and enforcement efforts across the country, ensuring that only safe and approved medications reach Nigerian consumers.
