The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted counterfeit malaria drugs valued at more than ₦1.2 billion during a raid in Lagos.
In a statement on Friday, the agency said its operatives uncovered 277 cartons of fake Malamal Forte tablets inside a warehouse in the Ilasa-Oshodi area.
The products, illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China, were disguised in cartons labeled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg and falsely declared as spare parts to evade detection.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the seizure as part of an ongoing nationwide crackdown on counterfeit medicines.
“This operation is part of NAFDAC’s sustained efforts to safeguard public health and ensure only safe, quality medicines are available to Nigerians,” she said.
Adeyeye explained that the agency has intensified monitoring of ports and warehouses, working with security agencies to block smugglers from flooding markets with substandard drugs.
She added that support from the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Health has bolstered the agency’s fight against counterfeiters.
NAFDAC warned importers and distributors that it would not relent in its mission to rid the country of dangerous medicines.
Experts note that counterfeit antimalarial drugs pose grave risks, worsening resistance to treatment and undermining progress in tackling malaria.
Nigeria currently accounts for 27 per cent of global malaria cases and 31 per cent of malaria-related deaths, according to the World Health Organisation.
In recent years, NAFDAC has stepped up raids leading to seizures of fake antibiotics, pain relievers, and antimalarials worth billions of naira, reinforcing its resolve to protect public health.