The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted counterfeit malaria medication valued at ₦1.2 billion in a raid at a warehouse in Ilasa-Oshodi, Lagos State.
Enforcement officers confiscated 277 cartons of unregistered Malamal Forte malaria drugs, which had been concealed inside cartons labelled as “Diclofenac Potassium 50mg.” The shipment was traced to Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China.
“The fake drugs, which were concealed in cartons labelled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg, were illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China,” the agency stated.
“They were falsely declared as spare parts in the shipping container.”
Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Director-General, confirmed the operation and reiterated the agency’s dedication to eliminating falsified and sub-standard medicines from Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market.
She warned that the distribution of such counterfeit malaria drugs poses “a grave danger to public health,” noting that malaria remains one of Nigeria’s leading causes of illness and death.
Adeyeye added that the agency has the full backing of the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Health in this fight.
Earlier this year, NAFDAC had intercepted counterfeit antimalarial drugs valued at over ₦3 billion at Onne Port in Rivers State. Like this latest haul, those too were illegally imported and hidden under false labelling.
NAFDAC has called on the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious drugs to the agency. “This seizure is part of NAFDAC’s sustained nationwide operation to protect public health and ensure only safe, quality medicines are available to Nigerians,” Adeyeye said.
