In a bold move to safeguard public health, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed over 11,000 shops and arrested 40 individuals in its ongoing nationwide clampdown on fake and substandard medicines.
This operation is part of NAFDAC’s efforts to eliminate falsified and unregistered drugs from the market.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, revealed that the enforcement operation had been planned for over a year as a covert operation.
The agency began enforcement operations on February 10 at the Idumota open drug market, the Ariaria drug market in Aba, and the Bridge Market in Onitsha. These three markets, which distribute over 80% of medications nationwide, were targeted to rid the country of counterfeit and unregistered drugs.
Key Highlights of the Operation
– Over 20 trucks of substandard drugs were evacuated from various locations in Aba ¹.- *At least 30 trucks of confiscated drugs* were seized in Onitsha.
– 27 trucks of substandard drugs were removed from the Idumota market ¹.- *Over 4,000 shops* were closed in Onitsha, 3,027 in Lagos, and another 4,000 in Aba.
Adeyeye commended the National Security Agency (NSA) for providing adequate security, which enabled the operation to be carried out without fear. She reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to combating the production and distribution of counterfeit and falsified drugs across the country.
The agency’s efforts are a significant step towards ensuring the safety and well-being of Nigerian consumers. As the operation continues, NAFDAC is expected to inspect shops individually to identify those operating legally and those that are not registered.