The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a massive operation at Onitsha’s Ogbo-Ogu Market in Anambra State, seizing large quantities of adulterated, substandard, and expired drugs.
Led by Dr. Martins Iluyomade, Director of NAFDAC’s South East Zone, the agency’s operatives targeted various shops in the market, confiscating a wide range of contraband pharmaceuticals.
Addressing journalists, Iluyomade explained that the exercise aligns with NAFDAC’s core mandate to eliminate fake, banned, and spurious regulated products from Nigeria’s market, ultimately protecting unsuspecting citizens from potential harm.
He said NAFDAC collaborated with the market task force to carry out the exercise, resulting in the seizure of numerous fake and banned products, and noted that the operation was a simultaneous, region-wide effort spanning all South-East states.
He said: “Today, we are commencing our enforcement at the Ogbo-Ogu market.
What triggered the exercise is that over time, we have been collating data and gathering intelligence on fake and substandard drugs in the market, and we got to the tail end and discovered that people are repackaging and re-bagging fake and counterfeit drugs in the market.
“The exercise is aimed at raiding the markets of fake and substandard drugs and those that are made up of spurious, counterfeited and falsified medicinal products, unwholesome processed products and several other unsafe regulated drugs.
“This is taking place simultaneously across the South-East states, and it is aimed at sanitising the drug markets and safeguarding the health of members of the unsuspecting public.
“Among the drugs are expired, banned, substandard, deflective, repackaged and recalled products. We found out that some of the drug dealers are in the habit of imitating some popular drugs and pouring it into containers of the original manufacturer in order to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
“And these drugs are very sensitive that can lead to death or permanent disability of the consumer. The confiscation of the products would eliminate the risk of their reintroduction into the market and a proof of the agency’s resolve to safeguard the health of the people.”
On the monetary value of the seized products, Iluyomade declined to provide an estimate, explaining that the exercise was ongoing and a final valuation would only be possible on conclusion.
The counterfeit products discovered in the market included a wide range of medications such as antibiotics, anti-hypertensives, anti-diabetics, anti-asthmatics, aphrodisiacs, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, herbal remedies, and psychoactive substances.
Additionally, the seized items included banned substances such as analgin, high-strength tramadol (over 100mg), gentamycin (280mg), codeine, and other controlled substances, as well as unapproved vaccines, contaminated food products, adulterated cosmetics, chemicals, and empty packaging materials like plastics, bags, and cans.
The exercise was also witnessed by representatives from various trade unions, market leaders, the market task force, and other key stakeholders who observed the operation firsthand.
Nigeria has long struggled with the menace of counterfeit drugs and products, a persistent challenge to public health and safety.
Persecondnews recalls that in a significant crackdown, NAFDAC destroyed counterfeit products worth N120 billion across the country from July to December 2024.
The gravity of the issue made the Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, to advocate death penalty for people convicted of trafficking in counterfeit and illicit drugs.
Adeyeye made the suggestion on Friday February 7, 2025, when she appeared on Channels Television’s “The Morning Brief”, monitored by Persecondnews.
She said: “Only stiff penalties will deter peddlers especially when it leads to the death of children.”
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