By Eteteonline
It is the duty of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to promote public health and safety by putting in place an efficient regulatory framework that guarantees that only high-quality food, medications, and other regulated products are produced, exported, promoted, distributed, sold, and used in Nigeria.
Since its creation by Decree No. 15 of 1993, which was modified by Decree No. 19 of 1999 (currently NAFDAC Act Cap N1 L.F.N. 2004), the agency has carried out its mandate, with varying degrees of success.
NAFDAC has been alerting the public and medical experts about the presence of counterfeit, subpar, and falsified medications in Nigerian marketplaces since the start of 2026. Additionally, it has conducted seizures and raids all around the nation.
In its most recent enforcement action, NAFDAC officers responded to reliable information on illegal drug storage that they obtained on February 3, 2026, in the Trade Fair Market neighborhood of Lagos. A large illegal manufacture and distribution center for counterfeit and prohibited medications was discovered when the agency raided a fake-drug syndicate inside the Trade Fair Complex.
Millions of counterfeit and illegal drug dosages were found by NAFDAC authorities, including fake anti-malaria drugs, fake injections, and goods that are prohibited in Nigeria. Ordinary Nigerians would find it very impossible to identify the drugs because they were cloned to look exactly like real medications. They can be poisonous or inefficient, and they can lead to treatment resistance and failure, which makes them risky.
It was ranked as one of the worst counterfeit medication schemes in recent years by NAFDAC. Over 10 million doses of harmful counterfeit medications and cosmetics totaling ₦3 billion were found in the warehouse.
According to NAFDAC, this operation has prevented millions of deaths and revealed how close Nigeria was to one of its most deadly pharmaceutical catastrophes. It has pledged to destroy the entire network of bogus drugs and issued a warning that those who manufacture, distribute, or store these lethal drugs will be held accountable by the law.
According to NAFDAC, Nigeria is being overrun by individuals who will stop at nothing to profit, even murdering fellow citizens and destroying respectable companies.
While an investigation was underway to identify the cartels’ principal owners, four people were taken into custody at the spot. In order to find the truth, NAFDAC promised to investigate every possibility.
Given the severity of the issue, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, has urged the National Assembly to alter the pertinent legislation to include the death sentence and life in prison for offenders.
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