NAFDAC closes 11,000 drug shops in major crackdown

• Seizes trillions of naira worth of counterfeit drugs

By Doris Obinna

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its crackdown on the illicit drug trade in Nigeria, shutting down more than 11,000 drug shops across major markets in the country. The enforcement operation, which has been ongoing for over three weeks, has also resulted in the arrest of 40 individuals involved in the sale of unregistered and dangerous drugs.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday at the agency’s warehouse in Apapa, Lagos, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof Christianah Adeyeye, revealed that authorities had confiscated more than 77 truckloads of counterfeit and illicit drugs.

The largest seizures were made in Idumota, Lagos, where 27 trucks were impounded, Onitsha with 30 trucks, and Aba with 20 trucks. The operation, she said, is far from over, with only about 20 per cent completed in some areas.

According to Adeyeye, a total of 3,027 drug shops were shut down in Idumota, 4,000 in Onitsha, and another 4,000 in Osisioma, Aba.

She described the discoveries as “mind-blowing,” citing alarming cases of vaccines stored improperly at room temperature instead of refrigeration, controlled substances and expired condoms that should have been destroyed since 2022, and even donated USAID drugs and free antiretroviral medications being illegally resold.

Authorities also found large quantities of banned drugs, including Tramadol and Analgin, smuggled into the country. Even more concerning were machines used to alter expiration dates on expired drugs, changing them from 2022/2023 to 2028. The total value of the seized drugs runs into trillions of naira.

Despite concerns raised by some traders, Adeyeye defended NAFDAC’s actions, emphasising that the agency’s priority is public health rather than business disruptions. She warned Nigerians against purchasing medications from unregulated street vendors and urged them to buy only from reputable pharmacies.

During the raid, investigators uncovered shocking storage conditions, with some seized drugs found in toilets and poorly ventilated warehouses.

Among the most dangerous substances recovered was Tramadol 225mg, a powerful opioid with severe neurological effects, and Tapfradol, a banned combination of tapentadol and carisoprodol, known for its harmful effects. Many of the confiscated drugs were not registered in NAFDAC’s database, confirming they had been smuggled into the country.

The enforcement operation required significant resources, with over 1,000 security personnel deployed, including 400 officers in Onitsha, 350 in Aba, and 250 in Idumota. However, Adeyeye acknowledged that the agency is operating under severe resource constraints, citing a shortage of staff and funding.

She called on the federal government to strengthen border security and provide NAFDAC with additional manpower to prevent the influx of counterfeit drugs.

“The porous borders are making our job more difficult,” Adeyeye stated. “We need more manpower to stop these dangerous drugs from entering Nigeria.”

She also assured the public that the crackdown would continue across other states in collaboration with security agencies. “This is just the beginning,” she declared.

“We will not stop until the menace of substandard and falsified drugs is eradicated from Nigeria.”
The large-scale operation underscores NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerians have access to safe and effective medicines as authorities intensify efforts to curb the circulation of counterfeit drugs nationwide.