The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched an ongoing enforcement operation at the Idumota open drug market in Lagos State to eliminate counterfeit and substandard medicines across Nigeria.
Mr. Shaba Mohammed, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, informed journalists during Tuesday’s operation that the market was sealed on Sunday, along with the Ariaria drug market in Aba and the Onitsha drug market in Anambra State.
The week-long enforcement is being carried out simultaneously in these three major markets, which together account for over 80 percent of the country’s medicine distribution. Mr. Mohammed emphasized that the operation targets traders involved in the sale of counterfeit, expired, rebranded, and substandard drugs that pose a serious threat to public health.
He explained that more than 5,000 shops, including warehouses and packing stores, will be inspected as part of the effort to identify and remove substandard medical products from circulation.
“This operation focuses on eliminating substandard medical products from Nigeria’s market. On Sunday night, we sealed off the three major open drug markets: Idumota, Onitsha, and Ariaria. We are working with military, police, secret service, and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, alongside NAFDAC staff, to ensure the success of this mission,” said Mr. Mohammed.
Shop owners were observed complying with NAFDAC’s directives, while armed security personnel were stationed at the Idumota market to ensure smooth operations. The authorities also confiscated seven fully-loaded trucks filled with suspected counterfeit drugs, expired medications, and products featuring inappropriate images, such as those depicting human body parts.
NAFDAC’s operation underscores its commitment to ridding the country of harmful and illegal drug products, ensuring public safety and well-being.
