By Ayomide Otitoju
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated over 10 million doses of counterfeit malaria drugs and cosmetic products valued at about ₦3 billion from the Trade Fair Market in Lagos.
NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, disclosed this on Monday during a briefing at the agency’s Apapa office, stating that the operation was carried out following credible intelligence received on February 3.
Iluyomade said the seized items included fake anti-malarial drugs, cerebral malaria injections, antibiotics, Postinor, and Anagin products, some of which have been banned in Nigeria for nearly 15 years. He explained that the counterfeit goods were discovered in a three-storey building disguised as a spare parts warehouse.
According to him, eight truckloads of the fake drugs and cosmetics were evacuated during the raid, while four suspects were arrested. He described the operation as one of the agency’s most significant recent enforcement actions, adding that investigations are ongoing.
The director warned that if the products had entered circulation, they could have put the lives of up to three million Nigerians at risk.
Iluyomade reaffirmed that under the leadership of NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency remains resolute in its efforts to eradicate counterfeit and substandard products across the country.
He also urged drug distributors to procure medicines only from NAFDAC-accredited manufacturers and called on members of the public to report suspicious activities to the nearest NAFDAC office.
