NAFDAC has recorded another huge success in its first week of operations, confiscating a staggering 12 truckloads of illicit pharmaceuticals and sealing over 3,000 shops in the Idumota Open Drug Market in Lagos State.
The decisive enforcement operation is a crucial step towards ridding the country’s drug distribution system of counterfeit and hazardous medications, ultimately protecting the health and well-being of Nigerian citizens.
Persecondnews reports that the agency made this known in a statement shared on its official X handle on Saturday.
During the raid, officials discovered egregious breaches, including vaccines stored in rundown, poorly ventilated rooms sealed with iron sheets, which posed significant health hazards.
The raid yielded large quantities of prohibited and hazardous substances, among them Analgin injections, diverted HIV antiretroviral medications, and expired pharmaceuticals intended for illicit revalidation, It said.
The statement reads: “In the first week of enforcement, NAFDAC screened and sealed over 3,000 shops within the Idumota Open Drug Market in Lagos.
“Among the discoveries were vaccines stored in dilapidated, unventilated rooms sealed with iron sheets in highly unsanitary conditions.
“Additionally, large consignments of banned products, including Analgin injections, diverted-free HIV antiretroviral drugs, expired medicines set for revalidation, and unregistered pharmaceuticals, were found.
“We have evacuated illicit pharmaceuticals equivalent to 12 truckloads. Empty packs and cartons of expired unregistered antimalarial injections were discovered inside a packing shop. The vials were removed.
“#HappeningNow Ecstasy (MDMA or Molly), various brands of Codeine Cough Syrup and Tramadol 225, were discovered in a warehouse within the market, away from the pharmaceutical section where other products are sold.”
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 spoke 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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