The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raked in over ₦2.5 billion from enforcement raids on drug markets in Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba.
Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this on Wednesday while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drug Administration and Control.
She said the charges were collected from traders caught selling fake or substandard medicines.
“The total amount collected was about ₦2.537 billion, and the charges were paid directly into a NAFDAC account,” she said.
Enforcement, Expenses, and Empty Accounts
The clampdown lasted up to four weeks in some locations and involved over 1,300 security personnel. Violations uncovered included expired drugs, banned substances like Tramadol, and poor storage practices.
Adeyeye explained that the standard fine for breaching Good Distribution and Storage Practice (GDSP) is ₦2 million, but many cases were settled at ₦500,000 to ease compliance.
“These charges were not punitive but necessary,” she said.
Of the ₦2.537 billion collected, ₦996 million went into operations, ₦1.175 billion covered regulatory expenses, and ₦159 million was borrowed from a donor grant. Only ₦207 million remained in the agency’s account.
“We had no funds. Our accounts had just been reopened with a zero balance in January 2024,” Adeyeye lamented.
Kano’s Case and Lawmakers’ Concerns
Lawmakers questioned why Kano traders were not fined like those in the South. Adeyeye explained that the Kano raid was court-ordered and carried out under tense security conditions.
“Even a legal officer was almost killed at the court premises. It was a volatile situation,” she said.
Kano had already built a Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC), making relocation easier. “In Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba, there was no CWC. So our approach was different. We had time to prepare, inspect, and charge offenders,” she added.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Regina Akume, demanded a detailed breakdown of revenue per market and clarification on deductions made by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), which reportedly sweeps up to 50% of NAFDAC’s revenue inflows.
Do you think critical agencies such as NAFDAC should be funded by the government, rather than be revenue-generating, to stay focused on a dispassionate and impartial service to the country?
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