In a sweeping crackdown on illicit drug trade, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has closed over 11,000 shops in major drug markets in Aba, Onitsha, and Idumota.
The agency arrested 40 individuals connected to the sale of unregistered and dangerous drugs and seized 77 truckloads of counterfeit and expired medicines.
According to Director-General Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, the raid revealed a shocking array of illicit items: vaccines stored outside refrigerators, controlled substances, and even products donated by USAID—such as antiretrovirals meant for free distribution—were found on sale.
Adeyeye also reported that traders used machines to alter expiration dates on banned drugs like tramadol and analgin, thereby masking their true shelf life. “We are not interfering with legitimate trade; we are protecting lives,” she emphasized.
The operation, which has been ongoing for over three weeks with support from the National Security Adviser and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, underscores the urgent need for stricter border security and enhanced regulatory oversight to prevent harmful drugs from endangering public health.
