NAFDAC Cracks Down on Fake Drugs: 3,000 Shops Sealed, Lawmakers and Peter Obi Respond
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its fight against counterfeit drugs, sealing over 3,000 drug shops in Lagos and confiscating 24 truckloads of fake medicines in Anambra and Abia states.
NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, declared that the agency will no longer tolerate illegal drug activities. This firm stance follows the discovery of two additional massive warehouses stocked with fake and expired drugs in Aba, Idumota, and Onitsha.
Last week, NAFDAC uncovered an illicit drug hub operating from multiple buildings in Umumeje village, Osisioma Ngwa, near Ariaria International Market, Abia State. Investigations revealed that expired drugs, including potassium chloride, allergy medications, immune boosters, and cholesterol treatments, were being repackaged and revalidated for sale, posing a serious health risk to the public. While some suspects were arrested during the raid, the primary suspect remains at large.
Since the operation began on February 10, 2025, NAFDAC’s sweeping enforcement has exposed billions of naira worth of adulterated and substandard medications, raising alarm over the scale of the illegal trade.
Labour Party (LP) lawmakers in the National Assembly have thrown their support behind NAFDAC’s crackdown but urged the agency to protect innocent traders.
The leader of the LP caucus in the House of Representatives, Afam Ogene, praised NAFDAC’s commitment to public safety but insisted that legitimate businesses must not suffer as a result of the agency’s actions.
In a statement released in Awka, Ogene said:
“While we commend NAFDAC’s efforts to combat the menace of fake drugs, we urge the agency to uphold global best practices and ensure that innocent traders are not caught in the crossfire.”
Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for the immediate reopening of unaffected markets in the Head Bridge Market area, which were shut down following the drug bust at Ogbo Ogwu Market.
While Obi condemned the sale of counterfeit drugs, he criticized the indiscriminate closure of neighboring markets with no proven involvement in illegal activities.
In a statement on his X handle, Obi described the ongoing shutdown as unjustified, highlighting the economic hardship it is causing thousands of traders and their families.
“The continued closure of these markets is inflicting severe financial pain on innocent business owners during an already challenging time for our nation,” Obi asserted.
Markets affected by the closure include Rod, Allied and Tools, Plumbing Materials, Timber, Surgical, and Provision Markets, none of which have been linked to the counterfeit drug trade.
As NAFDAC continues its aggressive push to sanitize the pharmaceutical sector, the call for balanced enforcement grows louder, with key political figures insisting on a fair and transparent process.
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