The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit and substandard drugs seized from major drug markets in Onitsha, Anambra State, and Aba, Abia State. The confiscated drugs, which filled more than 100 forty-foot trucks, were valued at over N1 trillion.
The operation, which lasted a month, was carried out by NAFDAC in collaboration with security agencies. Speaking at the ASWAMA destruction site in Awka, the agency’s Director General, Professor Moji Adeyeye, represented by the South East Zonal Director, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, highlighted the potential harm these drugs could have caused if they had reached consumers.
Adeyeye noted that the large-scale destruction of the fake medicines was one of the most significant in the world, emphasizing that millions of Nigerian lives were saved through the exercise. She explained that the operation was coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser due to the link between counterfeit drugs and national security threats.
She stressed the agency’s commitment to eradicating substandard and falsified medicines, ensuring that Nigerians can trust the safety and effectiveness of drugs available in the market. According to her, some of the destroyed medicines were genuine but had lost potency due to improper storage, while others included banned substances and narcotic drugs like tramadol, which contribute to insecurity.
Adeyeye also warned that ineffective drugs lead to treatment failures and economic losses. She assured that NAFDAC would continue its crackdown on fake drugs and praised security agencies for their role in the operation.
