In a sweeping operation aimed at curbing the menace of counterfeit drugs in Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has closed down 1,125 illegal drug stores, shuttered 62 illicit drug manufacturing facilities, and sealed 108 warehouses holding unapproved pharmaceutical products.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the crackdown, spanning the years 2022 and 2023, was part of NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to tackle the proliferation of substandard and falsified pharmaceuticals, which pose significant risks to public health.
According to data obtained from NAFDAC, the seized products, valued at over N21 billion, included fake and unregistered medicines.
Mrs. Christy Obiazikwor, NAFDAC’s Public Relations Officer in Lagos, expressed concerns over the current legal framework, describing existing penalties for drug counterfeiters as inadequate.
“The current laws do not serve as a deterrent,” she remarked, highlighting cases that have languished in courts for over a decade without resolution.
The agency’s crackdown comes amidst alarming statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), which estimates that one in ten medical products in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, is either substandard or falsified.
Kilani Jelili, National Treasurer of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, condemned counterfeit drug dealers as “criminals prioritizing profit over human lives.”
He emphasized the need for stricter penalties to deter illicit activities in the pharmaceutical sector.
Legal expert Suleiman Hassan Gimba underscored Nigeria’s challenges in combating counterfeit drugs, citing porous borders, regulatory corruption, and weak inter-agency coordination as major hurdles.
Gimba advocated for tougher penalties, including asset forfeiture and longer prison sentences, to effectively deter drug counterfeiters.
NAFDAC, established in 2001, has been at the forefront of regulating and monitoring pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.
Despite their efforts, the agency faces significant challenges, including legal loopholes and resource constraints.
The recent operations have marked a significant step forward in NAFDAC’s mission to safeguard public health and ensure the availability of safe and effective medicines across Nigeria.
The agency continues to push for legislative reforms aimed at enhancing penalties for drug counterfeiters, with proposed amendments currently under review by the National Assembly
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