The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has sealed more than 11,000 fake drug shops across Aba, Onitsha, and Idumota as part of a nationwide enforcement activities to rid the nation of the circulation of counterfeit and unregistered drugs.
The agency also disclosed that 40 suspects linked to the illegal distribution of dangerous pharmaceuticals were arrested during the regulatory exercise.
NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, while speaking during the inspection of seized drugs in Lagos on Saturday said 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, as she estimated the value of confiscated drugs which runs into trillions of naira, underscoring the scale of the illicit trade.
While prominent Nigerians have started expressing sympathy for affected traders, Adeyeye justified 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 unauthorised 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.
