The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has officially sealed the Idumota open drug market in Lagos State as part of its relentless campaign against counterfeit and substandard medications in Nigeria.
During a recent enforcement operation, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Shaba Mohammed, announced the sealing of the market, which took place on Sunday. This action also extended to the Ariaria drug market in Aba and the Onitsha drug market in Anambra.
The week-long enforcement initiative is being conducted simultaneously across these three major markets, which are responsible for distributing over 80 percent of medicines in the country. The primary goal of this operation is to eliminate the sale of fake, expired, and rebranded drugs that pose severe health risks to Nigerians.
“This operation focuses on combating substandard medical products in Nigeria’s market. We are diligently working to remove virtually all counterfeit products from these key markets,” Mohammed stated.
He emphasized that the enforcement team includes various security agencies such as the Military Police, Secret Service, and representatives from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, collaborating closely with NAFDAC staff.
Over 5,000 shops, incorporating warehouses and packaging facilities, will be thoroughly inspected during this operation to identify and remove fake medical products. Observers noted that shop owners at the Idumota market complied with NAFDAC officials, who conducted inspections throughout the market.
To ensure a secure environment for the enforcement team, armed security personnel were deployed alongside NAFDAC officials. During the operation, seven fully loaded trucks containing suspected fake drugs, expired medicines, and drugs bearing images of human body parts were confiscated.
As the fight against counterfeit drugs intensifies, NAFDAC continues to focus on ensuring the safety and well-being of consumers throughout Nigeria.
