NAFDAC Destroys N1 Trillion Worth of Fake Drugs in Anambra

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit and substandard pharmaceutical products worth over N1 trillion in Anambra State. The operation, which took place in Onitsha, is part of NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to combat the distribution of fake drugs in Nigeria.

According to NAFDAC, the seized products included falsified antiretroviral drugs, antibiotics, and unregistered medications. The agency confirmed that many of the items were found at the Ogbo-Ogwu Bridge Head Market, a major pharmaceutical hub. Over 10 trucks loaded with fake and expired drugs were confiscated before being publicly destroyed.

NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized the health risks associated with counterfeit drugs, noting that they contribute to treatment failures, drug resistance, and preventable deaths. She called for stricter penalties, including life imprisonment or the death sentence, for individuals involved in the production and distribution of fake drugs.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply by intensifying enforcement operations, collaborating with law enforcement agencies, and raising public awareness about the dangers of counterfeit drugs.