The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has intensified its war against counterfeit and substandard pharmaceuticals, seizing drugs valued at over N1 trillion in a historic enforcement operation.
Speaking to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, described the large-scale raid as the most extensive in the agency’s history.
The operation, which targeted three major open drug markets, Onitsha, Aba, and Lagos, led to the confiscation of 87 truckloads of illicit medical products, including expired and substandard drugs.
Among the seized items were USAID and UNFPA-donated antiretroviral drugs and condoms, originally intended for Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS intervention efforts.
According to PAdeyeye, the estimated N1 trillion valuation of the confiscated drugs could rise significantly upon further assessment.
The enforcement exercise, which began on February 9, 2025, was carried out at:
Bridge Head Market, Onitsha, Anambra State
Ariaria and Eziukwu Markets, Aba, Abia State
Idumota Drug Market, Lagos State
As part of NAFDAC’s National Action Plan (NAP 2.0) for 2023-2027, the operation aimed to combat counterfeit medicines, improve regulatory oversight, and enhance public health safety.
The crackdown involved 1,100 security personnel, including military officers, police, and DSS operatives, who sealed off the targeted markets to prevent the illegal removal of contraband drugs.
The operation revealed shocking violations, including:
Expired and diverted USAID and UNFPA-donated antiretroviral drugs and condoms, originally meant for Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS response, were repackaged for sale, undermining global health efforts.
Massive volumes of controlled substances such as Tramadol, Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), Nitrazepam, and Diazepam—known for their links to drug abuse and crime—were seized. Prof. Adeyeye stated that the quantity recovered was large enough to threaten national security.
Tafradol, a drug recently banned in India after a BBC investigation exposed its illicit export to Africa, was discovered in Onitsha. This unapproved medication has reportedly fueled widespread drug abuse in Nigeria.
Investigators uncovered highly unsafe drug storage conditions, including; vaccines, prescription drugs, and heat-sensitive medications stored in toilets, staircases, and rooftops at dangerously high temperatures.
Oxytocin injections and other essential medicines exposed to extreme heat, making them ineffective and possibly harmful.
Warehouses packed with pharmaceuticals in poorly ventilated, windowless rooms, where temperatures soared above 40°C, accelerating chemical degradation.
The crackdown led to 40 arrests, with suspects set to face legal action. A database of offending shop owners has been compiled for further prosecution.
Security operations were overseen by National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, ensuring strict law enforcement throughout the process.
Adeyeye disclosed that all seized drugs would be publicly destroyed in the affected cities.
Additionally, NAFDAC and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria plan to relocate all open drug markets to six Coordinated Wholesale Centres, one in each geopolitical zone, within the next year.
NAFDAC is advocating harsher punishments for those involved in the counterfeit drug trade, urging the National Assembly to amend existing laws.
“We use this opportunity to call on the National Assembly to expedite the amendment of NAFDAC ACT NI LFN and Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods C34 ACT to include life sentence and death penalty in the penalties for crimes committed under these Acts,” Prof. Adeyeye stated.
She also emphasized the significance of the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), which will enable authorities to seize and forfeit the assets of convicted offenders.
Despite the large-scale enforcement operation, Prof. Adeyeye assured that sealed drug markets may reopen within a week, under stricter regulatory measures.
“This exercise is purely an enforcement operation to protect public health and rid our country of falsified and substandard medical products,” she affirmed.
