The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted counterfeit malaria drugs valued at over N1.2 billion during a raid on a warehouse in Lagos State.
In a statement released on Friday through its official X handle, the agency disclosed that operatives recovered 277 cartons of unregistered Malamal Forte malaria drugs at a facility in Ilasa-Oshodi. The fake products had been smuggled into the country and hidden under false packaging to avoid detection.
NAFDAC explained that the counterfeit drugs were concealed in cartons labelled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg and were illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China. The items were falsely declared as spare parts in the shipping documents, a move aimed at deceiving port authorities and bypassing regulatory checks.
The agency’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, described the interception as a major breakthrough in the ongoing war against counterfeit and substandard medicines. She stressed that the circulation of fake malaria drugs poses severe risks to public health, as patients may fail to receive the proper treatment, leading to complications, drug resistance, and in many cases, preventable deaths.
Adeyeye added that the agency remains steadfast in its mission to protect the health of Nigerians. She noted that the Lagos operation is part of a sustained nationwide campaign aimed at identifying and removing harmful and substandard medicines from circulation.
“The agency will continue to intensify surveillance and enforcement actions to ensure that only safe, quality, and effective medicines are available in Nigeria. Our duty is to safeguard the lives of millions of Nigerians who rely on these medicines daily,” she said.
Over the years, NAFDAC has carried out several high-profile seizures of counterfeit drugs across the country, targeting syndicates who exploit loopholes in Nigeria’s import system. Experts have repeatedly warned that counterfeit medicines are one of the leading threats to public health in Africa, undermining treatment outcomes and weakening the fight against life-threatening diseases like malaria.
Health advocates have commended NAFDAC’s latest operation, stressing that counterfeit drugs not only endanger lives but also erode public trust in the healthcare system. They urged the agency to strengthen collaborations with international partners, customs authorities, and security agencies to ensure tighter border control and effective monitoring of pharmaceutical imports.
The agency has appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, assuring Nigerians that every effort is being made to rid the country of harmful products that compromise safety and wellbeing.
