The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized fake malaria drugs worth more than ₦1.2 billion in Lagos.
Officials intercepted 277 cartons of counterfeit Malamal Forte tablets hidden in a warehouse at Ilasa-Oshodi. The drugs were concealed in boxes labelled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg.
According to NAFDAC, the shipment was illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China. The consignments had been falsely declared as “spare parts” to evade customs checks.
“We remain committed, with the full support of the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Health, to eliminating counterfeit and substandard medicines from Nigeria,” said NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.
Protecting Nigerians from Fake Medicines
The seizure is part of a wider nationwide crackdown. NAFDAC has carried out similar raids in Kano, Onitsha, and Port Harcourt this year, targeting syndicates behind fake pharmaceuticals.
Counterfeit malaria drugs are one of Nigeria’s deadliest scourges, where malaria kills an estimated 200,000 people each year, according to WHO data. Experts warn that fake medicines worsen resistance to treatment and put millions at risk.
Prof. Adeyeye said only a strong system of surveillance, intelligence gathering, and international cooperation can stop the networks flooding the country with dangerous drugs.
NAFDAC urged Nigerians to buy medicines only from licensed pharmacies and check products for registration numbers. Officials also appealed for public support through whistleblowing.
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