The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted counterfeit malaria medicines valued at over ₦1.2 billion in Lagos.
In a statement issued on Friday via its official X handle, the agency revealed that operatives raided a warehouse in the Ilasa-Oshodi area, where 277 cartons of fake Malamal Forte drugs were uncovered.
“NAFDAC has intercepted 277 cartons of counterfeit and unregistered Malamal Forte malaria drugs, valued at over ₦1.2 billion, in a warehouse located in the Ilasa-Oshodi area of Lagos State,” the statement read.
According to the agency, the unregistered products were disguised in cartons labelled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg and illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China. The consignment had been falsely declared as spare parts to evade detection.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the interception as part of a sustained nationwide crackdown to safeguard public health.
“This seizure is part of NAFDAC’s sustained nationwide operation to protect public health and ensure only safe, quality medicines are available to Nigerians,” Adeyeye said.
She explained that the agency had intensified surveillance at ports and warehouses across the country, working closely with security agencies to prevent smugglers from flooding the market with harmful drugs. She added that government backing had further strengthened NAFDAC’s fight against counterfeiters.
The agency warned importers and distributors that it would not relent in its efforts to rid Nigeria’s markets of fake medicines capable of endangering lives.
Counterfeit and substandard medicines remain a serious public health challenge in Nigeria, where malaria continues to carry one of the world’s heaviest disease burdens. The World Health Organisation estimates that Nigeria accounts for 27 per cent of global malaria cases and 31 per cent of malaria deaths.
Experts warn that fake antimalarial drugs not only threaten lives but also fuel drug resistance, undermining years of progress in tackling the disease.
In recent years, NAFDAC has intensified its war against drug counterfeiting, with several raids leading to seizures of fake antibiotics, pain relievers, and antimalarials worth billions of naira.
ADEOLA KUNLE
