The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed the Idumota open drug market in Lagos as part of a nationwide effort to eliminate fake and substandard medicines.
The operation, which began on Sunday, also affected the Ariaria drug market in Aba and the Onitsha drug market in Anambra.
These three markets serve as major distribution centers for pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.
According to NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Shaba Mohammed, the enforcement exercise will last a week.
The agency is inspecting over 5,000 shops, including warehouses and storage facilities, to remove counterfeit, expired, and rebranded drugs that pose health risks.
Security agencies, including the Military Police, Secret Service, and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, are supporting the operation.
Several shop owners were seen cooperating with officials during inspections.
Seven trucks loaded with suspected fake and expired drugs, some with images of human body parts, were seized.
Armed security personnel were stationed at the markets to ensure the smooth execution of the exercise.
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