NAFDAC shuts popular drug markets in Lagos, Anambra

Godstime Simon

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed the popular ldumota drug market in Lagos State as part of a nationwide effort to combat the distribution of counterfeit and substandard medicines.

The operation, which began on Sunday night, targeted three major drug markets: ldumota in Lagos, Bridgehead in Onitsha, and Ariaria in Aba.

The closures follow growing concerns over the widespread sale of unsafe, ineffective, and potentially life-threatening medications.

Speaking during the operation in Lagos, NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye, emphasized the need to ensure the safety and efficacy of medicines available to Nigerians.

“The goal of this exercise is to guarantee that when people take medicine, it works. A child should not die because the drug they were given contains nothing effective,” she stated.

She further highlighted the need to regulate drug sales, revealing that over 50,000 shops currently operate in open markets, a situation that poses serious health risks.

NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Mr Shaba Mohammed, stressed the urgency of the crackdown, pointing out that these markets serve as distribution hubs for over 80% of the country’s drug supply.

“These are not just places of trade; they are places where lives are at stake. Our mission is to ensure that only approved, safe, and effective medicines are sold to the public” he said.

The operation carried out with support from military personnel, the police, and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, focused on seizing counterfeit and unapproved drugs, marking a significant step in NAFDAC’s ongoing battle against the proliferation of dangerous pharmaceuticals in the country.