- NAFDAC closes Onitsha, Aba, Lagos drug markets over fight against illicit drugs
- Obi, Gov. Soludo express divergent views on the rationale behind the closure
- Regulatory body insists it will not open the markets until proper measure and punishment are received
On Saturday, February 22, 2025, the National Agency Food and Drug Administration Control, NAFDAC announced that it has made a huge harvest of seizure of substandard drugs in the country.
According to the regulatory body, over 77 trucks of substandard drugs were seized at Aba, Onitsha and Idumota drug markets in the last one week.
NAFDAC also explained that over 11,000 shops have been sealed off and 40 individuals arrested in its ongoing nationwide clampdown on fake and substandard medicines.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos on Saturday.
Adeyeye said the enforcement was planned over a year as covert operations.
NAFDAC on February 10 commenced enforcement operations at the Idumota open drugs market, Ariaria drug market in Aba and Bridge Market in Onitsha.
According to the agency, the enforcement operations at the three markets which are the hub of distributions of over 80 per cent of medications, will rid the country of falsified and unregistered drugs.
Adeyeye said that over 20 trucks of substandard drugs were evacuated at different locations in Aba, not less than 30 trucks of confiscated drugs were seized in Onitsha while 27 trucks were evacuated at the Idumota market.
In her words, “We are winding down our operations at Aba because we have almost finished with evacuation.
“Our next phase is to start going shop by shop to know those who have registered and those who have not registered.
“We have closed over 4,000 shops in Onitsha, 3,027 shops in Lagos and 4,000 shops in Aba since we commenced these operations.
“In Onitsha, we have done 20 per cent of our jobs. We have to do holistic work because we have some traders who are genuine but they are not registered under the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN).”
The DG commended the leadership of the National Security Agency (NSA) for providing adequate security for the operations, noting that the exercise was made possible through their support to NAFDAC.
“Three years ago, some of our men were almost killed while trying to carry out a major operation like this in Onitsha.
“Our enforcement teams in these three locations were able to carry out their duties without any fear.
“NSA gave us 400 officers in Onitsha, 350 in Aba and over 250 officers in Lagos to ensure safety for our officers,” she said.
Adeyeye said the agency would continue its fight against perpetrators of counterfeit and falsified drugs in the country.
However, few days after the sting operation by the officials of the NAFDAC there has been torrent of comments and reactions.
Soludo, Obi differ on Anambra markets closure over crackdown on illicit drugs
Following this development, the Anambra state governor, Prof. Charles Soludo has expressed his shock over the deteriorated situation in the Medicines/drugs market in Anambra state.
Gov. Soludo stated this when he visited the Ọgbọ Ogwụ Market in the Onitsha area of the state on Saturday, February 21.
His visit followed the recent impoundment of fake drugs and closure of some markets suspected to harbour fake and banned drugs by the regulatory body.
According to Gov. Soludo, tackling counterfeit drugs should start at the country’s entry points, where the harmful products are smuggled into the nation, in addition to local regulatory efforts.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered among the markets reportedly shut in Onitsha by NAFDAC are Ogbo Ogwu, Plumbing Materials, Rod, Allied and Tools markets.
Prof. Soludo said that, “I visited the Ọgbọ Ogwụ and adjoining markets today in Onitsha. As the biggest open drug market in Africa, it is not surprising that federal agencies and regulatory bodies would, from time to time, visit the market to enforce standards and check the sale of fake, counterfeit, and controlled drugs.
“With drugs and related matters strictly under the Exclusive List, my visit today was interventionist. First, I sought to ascertain why other markets close to the drug market in Onitsha were closed.
“Away from the media sensation created by a few political actors, the leadership of the Plumbing Materials Market, which was shut down alongside the drug market, confirmed to me that the discoveries made by regulators in some shops were shocking and disturbing.”
The governor added that several shops were found storing cartons of counterfeit drugs, many of which were banned both locally and internationally. He questioned how these drugs, produced in India, manage to pass through the country’s sea and air ports and end up in local markets.
He appealed to the Federal Government to intensify efforts to crack down on the supply chain of these harmful drugs, stressing the need to tighten controls at the source. He also suggested that the market inspections be done on time to allow traders at the Plumbing Materials Market to reopen and resume legitimate business within 10 days.
Highlighting his efforts to address the issue, he listed the construction of a wholesale drug centre in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state, which will be the major drug hub in the state.
“This is our contribution to ending the current chaotic market environment where fake and counterfeit drugs thrive,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Soludo’s position contrasts with his predecessor and the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.
Obi had, in a statement on X on Monday, February 17, voiced his dissatisfaction with the closure of other markets neighbouring the Ọgbọ Ogwụ Market.
Obi had called on regulatory and security agencies to reconsider the closure of markets surrounding the Head Bridge Market in Onitsha, after the crackdown on illegal drug activities within the area.
While the former governor condemned the sale of counterfeit drugs and supported the prosecution of those responsible, he raised concerns about the collateral damage caused by the blanket closure of nearby markets, which he said were not involved in the illegal sale of drugs.
“Shutting down neighbouring markets like Rod, Allied and Tools, Plumbing Materials, Timber, Surgical, and Provision Markets, which have no connection to the illicit drug trade, is excessive and unjustified.
“The continued closure is severely affecting the livelihoods of millions, especially during this difficult period in our country,” he said.
Obi recalled how his administration addressed similar public health threats when he led the state.
He questioned the rationale behind the extended market closures, asking, “If the goal is to conduct a legitimate search, why extend the closure to other markets? What are their offences?”
