By David Akinmola
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit, expired, and unwholesome medical products valued at over ₦15 billion at the Moniya dumpsite in Ibadan, Oyo State — in one of its largest clampdowns yet on Nigeria’s thriving fake drug market.
The destruction exercise, led by the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, and represented by Dr. Martins Iluyomade, Director of Investigation and Enforcement, underscores NAFDAC’s intensified efforts to rid the market of substandard medicines and protect public health.
Adeyeye said the destroyed products included counterfeit, unregistered, and banned medicines such as Analgin, Co-codamol, codeine-based syrups, Tramadol, Oxytocin, and expired vaccines — all of which pose severe health risks if consumed.
According to her, the exercise was necessary to ensure that the confiscated drugs do not re-enter the market. “We must eliminate the danger these products pose to unsuspecting consumers. Allowing them back into circulation would be disastrous,” she said.
She revealed that some of the items were seized from nationwide raids and port inspections, including a recent interception of a container falsely declared as diclofenac but containing over 100,000 anti-malaria tablets. The suspect behind the consignment has been arrested and is set for prosecution, she added.
NAFDAC also uncovered illegal cosmetic manufacturing operations during a raid on a military barracks in Lagos, where unregistered beauty products and packaging materials were confiscated.
Adeyeye commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its collaboration in the fight against counterfeit drugs, disclosing that Customs recently handed over more than 25 seized 40-foot containers of prohibited pharmaceuticals and frozen poultry, including Tramadol and Artesunate injections. “The destruction of these products marks another victory in our collective effort to protect public health,” she said.
The NAFDAC boss appealed to Nigerians — including traditional rulers, health workers, religious leaders, and journalists — to join the campaign against fake and substandard drugs by discouraging patronage of unlicensed sellers and reporting suspicious activities. “Public vigilance and cooperation are essential to ending this menace. Every fake drug sold puts lives at risk,” she warned.
This latest destruction comes days after NAFDAC announced the withdrawal, suspension, and cancellation of 101 pharmaceutical products previously approved for sale in Nigeria. The affected medicines include cardiovascular and diabetes drugs such as Amaryl, Amlodipine, Artemether/Lumefantrine, Januvia, and Janumet from global manufacturers including Sanofi, Novartis, and Bayer.
The agency also issued a two-week ultimatum to drug dealers in major commercial hubs like Idumota in Lagos, Onitsha in Anambra, and Aba in Abia to register with its national database or face sanctions.
Dr. Iluyomade noted that the registration would ensure full traceability of pharmaceutical products and enhance market accountability. He warned that traders who tamper with NAFDAC seals or attempt to reopen sealed shops would be prosecuted.
“This exercise is not just about enforcement — it is about saving lives and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare system,” Adeyeye said. “We will not relent until every fake and substandard product is eliminated from circulation.”
