The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has successfully confiscated more than 100 truckloads of substandard, falsified, and banned medicines and narcotics in Lagos, Abia, and Anambra states. The operation, which lasted six weeks, targeted major markets in Idumota (Lagos), Onitsha (Anambra), and Aba (Abia).
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, warned that the circulation of such harmful drugs could devastate the nation, adversely affecting the health and quality of life of millions of Nigerians. She emphasized the risks posed by substandard medicines, including the potential to worsen conditions like diabetes and hypertension, and the danger narcotics pose to young Nigerians, potentially fueling crime and terrorism.
The agency’s enforcement efforts, concluded in February and March 2025, led to the evacuation of over 100 truckloads of illicit drugs, with 27 truckloads from Idumota already destroyed. In Aba, 14 truckloads were seized from the Osisioma warehouse alone, while in Onitsha, NAFDAC staff encountered significant challenges, including violent resistance from market vendors trying to protect their illicit businesses.
Despite the hazards, Prof. Adeyeye reaffirmed that NAFDAC’s operations are crucial for public health, promoting trade, and curbing the proliferation of dangerous substances.
