The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has made a massive seizure of over 100 truckloads of substandard and banned medicines, including narcotics, from major drug markets in Lagos, Anambra, and Abia states. The agency's Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, warned that if these drugs, worth over ₦1 trillion, had entered circulation, they could have caused a national health crisis, destabilized the government, and reduced the quality of life for millions of Nigerians.
Many of the seized hypertension and diabetes medications were found to be fake or expired, posing a serious risk to lives. Additionally, large quantities of narcotics were discovered, which Adeyeye warned could fuel banditry and terrorism, particularly among the country's youth population under 40.
NAFDAC's efforts to raid these markets have been met with violence in the past, with drug dealers fighting to protect their illegal business. In one instance, NAFDAC officers and police personnel narrowly escaped death during an operation in Onitsha.
Despite these challenges, NAFDAC remains committed to protecting public health and fostering legitimate trade. Adeyeye emphasized that the agency's actions are guided by three key objectives: protecting public health, fostering trade, and reducing the scourge of fake drugs and illegal narcotics in the country.
The agency's efforts are crucial, as drug counterfeiting not only endangers lives but also harms local pharmaceutical manufacturers, making it difficult for them to compete. By tackling the menace of fake drugs and illegal narcotics, NAFDAC is working to safeguard the health of Nigerians.
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