The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised alarm over what it describes as an insidious and escalating threat to public health the proliferation of counterfeit drugs and unwholesome processed foods across Nigeria.

 

Speaking in Abuja on Friday during the inauguration of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, warned that the menace not only endangers the lives of citizens but also undermines the integrity of the nation’s healthcare system and public trust in everyday products.

 

She said the establishment of the federal task force, backed by the provisions of Cap C 34, reflects the collective determination of stakeholders to fight the scourge through a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach that is “swift, decisive, and relentless.”

 

“Lives are at stake every day, and delays in action deepen the risks faced by our people. We must act now with purpose, resolve, and unity,” Adeyeye declared.

 

Highlighting recent enforcement successes, Adeyeye revealed that between February and March 2025, NAFDAC conducted major operations at key drug markets in Onitsha and Ariaria. These raids, she said, led to the evacuation and destruction of over 100 truckloads of counterfeit and substandard products valued at more than ₦1 trillion.

 

The operations also resulted in multiple arrests and the confiscation of a broad range of illegal medicines, unregistered drugs, and unsafe processed foods.

 

“This massive seizure not only removed dangerous products from circulation but also sent a strong message that Nigeria is serious about protecting its citizens,” she said.

 

 

Adeyeye pledged that in the coming weeks and months, NAFDAC would intensify its crackdown, launch nationwide public awareness campaigns, and deploy innovative technologies to outpace criminal networks producing and distributing illicit products.

 

However, she stressed that success would depend on strong partnerships across all sectors.

 

 

“It is only through the collective efforts of the government, industry, consumers, and partners that we can effectively address this menace,” she noted. “For us at NAFDAC, our mandate is clear: to strengthen enforcement, enhance surveillance, and work collaboratively with all stakeholders to eradicate these illicit products from our markets.”

 

 

 

The newly inaugurated task force will work with law enforcement agencies, industry regulators, and community stakeholders to ensure that counterfeit and unsafe products are traced, seized, and permanently eliminated from circulation.