NAFDAC Seizes ₦1.2bn Worth of Fake Malaria Drugs in Lagos

NAFDAC Seizes ₦1.2bn Worth of Fake Malaria Drugs in Lagos, Vows Crackdown on Counterfeiters

In a major breakthrough against counterfeit drug syndicates, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized 277 cartons of fake and unregistered malaria drugs valued at over ₦1.2 billion in Ilasa-Oshodi, Lagos.

NAFDAC

The operation, revealed on Friday via NAFDAC’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, targeted a warehouse where the counterfeit Malamal Forte products were illegally stored and disguised as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg. The consignment, which was illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China, had been falsely declared as spare parts to evade customs and regulatory scrutiny.

NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the seizure as a critical part of a nationwide crackdown on fake and substandard medicines, emphasizing the serious health risks such products pose to Nigerians.

“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 stated.

NAFDAC

She highlighted that the operation was backed by enhanced surveillance at ports and warehouses, with support from security agencies and the Federal Ministry of Health.

“With the full support of the Presidency, NAFDAC remains committed to eliminating counterfeit and substandard medicines from Nigeria,” the agency added.

Counterfeit malaria drugs are a particularly grave threat in Nigeria, where malaria remains one of the country’s leading causes of illness and death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria accounts for 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths.

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Public health experts warn that fake antimalarials not only endanger lives but also contribute to drug resistance, undermining decades of progress in malaria control.

NAFDAC reiterated its warning to importers and drug distributors that it will not relent in its mission to rid the pharmaceutical supply chain of harmful and illegal products.

The agency’s aggressive stance follows similar high-profile operations, including the destruction of ₦11 billion worth of fake drugs in Ibadan last year — a reminder of the scale and urgency of the challenge facing Nigeria’s health sector.