*Shuts Down Over 11,000 Drug Shops, Arrests 40 In Major Crackdown On Illicit Drug Sales
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down more than 11,000 drug shops across Aba, Onitsha, and Idumota as part of a nationwide operation targeting the sale of counterfeit and unregistered drugs. In the course of the enforcement, 40 suspects linked to the illegal distribution of dangerous pharmaceuticals were arrested.
Speaking in Lagos on Saturday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, revealed that the agency had confiscated over 77 truckloads of counterfeit and illicit drugs—27 from Idumota, 30 from Onitsha, and over 20 from Aba. She noted that the operation had led to the closure of 3,027 shops in Idumota, 4,000 in Onitsha, and another 4,000 in Aba’s Osisioma area, with further enforcement actions still ongoing.
Describing the discoveries as “mind-blowing,” Adeyeye detailed the shocking findings, which included:
Expired drugs with fraudulently altered expiration dates.
Banned controlled substances such as Tramadol and Analgin.
Vaccines and antiretrovirals meant for free distribution, including donations from USAID, being illegally sold.
Machines used to falsify drug expiration dates, making expired medicines appear valid until 2028.
Pharmaceuticals stored in unsanitary conditions, including toilets and poorly ventilated warehouses.
The estimated value of the confiscated drugs runs into trillions of naira, underscoring the scale of the illicit trade.
Amid concerns from affected traders, Adeyeye defended NAFDAC’s enforcement efforts, stressing that the crackdown was aimed at protecting public health rather than disrupting businesses.
“We are trying to safeguard the future of our young people from harmful drugs. We want to ensure patients recover with genuine medicine and not fake products that worsen their conditions,” she stated.
She also issued a stern warning to Nigerians about the dangers of purchasing drugs from unauthorized vendors:
“If you bought medicine from a street corner, throw it away. Only buy from a reputable pharmacy.”
Adeyeye lamented staff shortages and called for increased government backing, revealing that more than 1,000 security personnel were involved in the operation—400 in Onitsha, 350 in Aba, and 250 in Idumota.
She urged the federal government to tighten border security, noting that a significant portion of the counterfeit drugs was smuggled into Nigeria.
“Our porous borders are making our job more difficult. We need more manpower to stop these harmful products from entering Nigeria.”
NAFDAC has vowed to extend enforcement actions to other states and collaborate with sister agencies to ensure compliance.
“This is just the beginning. We will not stop until the menace of substandard and falsified drugs is eradicated from Nigeria,” Adeyeye declared.
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