The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has intercepted counterfeit malaria drugs valued at more than ₦1.2 billion in Lagos, describing the haul as one of the largest in recent times.
The seizure was made in a warehouse in the Ilasa-Oshodi area, where 277 cartons of fake Malamal Forte tablets were discovered. According to NAFDAC, the drugs had been smuggled into the country under false declarations.
“The fake drugs, which were concealed in cartons labelled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg, were illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China. They were falsely declared as spare parts in the shipping container,” the agency disclosed in a statement on Friday.
NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye said the operation was part of a wider crackdown on counterfeit medicines across the country. “This seizure is part of NAFDAC’s sustained nationwide operation to protect public health and ensure only safe, quality medicines are available to Nigerians,” she said.
She stressed that the agency, with backing from the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Health, is intensifying efforts to remove substandard drugs from circulation.
The interception comes amid growing concerns about the circulation of fake drugs in Nigeria, a problem that has continued to endanger lives and weaken public confidence in the healthcare system.
