The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit and substandard drugs worth ₦1 trillion. The confiscated drugs were seized in a large-scale operation targeting illegal pharmaceutical markets in Onitsha and Aba.
The destruction took place at the Anambra State Waste Management Agency’s dump site in Awka on Friday, following strict disposal procedures to ensure public safety. The agency confirmed that a staggering 100 containers of fake and banned drugs were involved.
Professor Christina Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Director-General, supervised the exercise. She was represented by Dr. Martin Iluyomade, Director of Southeast Zonal Operations, who noted that the amount of psychoactive drugs recovered was enough to destabilize an entire country.
Adeyeye stated that the agency is taking decisive steps to put an end to the circulation of falsified and substandard medicines in Nigeria. She warned that fake drugs contribute to treatment failures, preventable deaths, and economic losses, especially for vulnerable patients.
“Medicines are not a matter of choice but necessity. We cannot quantify how many lives have been lost due to fake or substandard products,” she said.
She also raised concerns about the poor storage conditions of critical medications, particularly those meant for pregnant women. Some of these medicines, which require cold storage, were found kept in extremely hot conditions, which could compromise their effectiveness and contribute to high maternal and infant mortality rates in the country.
Adeyeye further noted the ongoing challenge posed by banned substances, including unapproved drugs like tramadol and other psychoactive substances, which are still being circulated despite strict regulations.
She assured Nigerians that NAFDAC remains committed to ensuring that all medicines available in the country are safe, effective, and certified for public use. Although the one-month enforcement operation that led to the seizure had officially ended, she emphasized that NAFDAC would continue its crackdown on fake drugs until they are completely eliminated.
“We thank the Federal Government, state government, security agencies, and the media for their support and cooperation during this successful operation,” Adeyeye stated.
Mr. Mike Ozoemena, representing the Anambra State government, commended NAFDAC for its relentless efforts in combating counterfeit drugs. Ozoemena, who is also the Managing Director of the Anambra State Waste Management Agency, assured that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration would continue to support measures aimed at protecting public health.
He also praised NAFDAC for acting swiftly to address the issue without causing unnecessary disruptions to traders in affected markets.
