NAFDAC DG Mojisola Adeyeye defends the agency’s crackdown on counterfeit medicines, stating it aims to protect lives. Recent raids in Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba led to major drug seizures. Adeyeye insists there’s no political interference and vows to continue efforts against unregistered, expired, and falsified pharmaceuticals nationwide.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating counterfeit and unregistered medicines in Nigeria. Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye, during a visit to Lagos, defended the agency’s recent crackdown on illegal pharmaceuticals, emphasizing that the operation is purely aimed at safeguarding public health.
Adeyeye's visit followed a major raid at Lagos' Idumota Open Drug Market, where officials seized large quantities of illicit medicines, including falsified GSK Ampiclox and Cocodamol. Banned, expired, and controlled substances were also discovered. She dismissed any political motives behind the operation, stating, “We’re protecting lives. This is NAFDAC’s mandate.”
The agency has intensified enforcement nationwide, deploying over 1,000 personnel to remove dangerous drugs from circulation. Similar crackdowns have occurred in Onitsha and Aba, where authorities shut down the Onitsha Bridgehead Drug Market over alleged sales of unregulated medicines.
Adeyeye also revealed that many traders operate without proper registration from the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), contributing to the distribution of substandard products. She warned that NAFDAC will not relent in its efforts to rid the country of fake and harmful drugs.
With Nigeria facing growing concerns over counterfeit medicines, NAFDAC’s crackdown signals a firm stance against illicit pharmaceutical trade. The agency has urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious drug sales to authorities.
