The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has carried out a major raid at the Ekumi Drug Market in Aba, Abia State, in a crackdown on unregistered and banned pharmaceutical products.

The operation, which took place on Monday, was part of a coordinated nationwide enforcement effort aimed at eliminating substandard and dangerous drugs from the market.

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Nationwide Crackdown on Fake Drugs

Addressing journalists during the raid, Pharmacist Omoyeni Babatunji, the Deputy Director in charge of Monitoring and Enforcement for the Federal Task Force in the South-South and South-East zones, emphasized that the exercise was part of NAFDAC’s commitment to protecting public health.

“This is a national assignment to rid markets of unwholesome products. We have taken over this market and will systematically screen every shop,” Babatunji stated.

He further explained that the operation was being conducted simultaneously in three different locations within the region, as part of an inter-agency collaboration involving security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), the Police, and the Army.

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Discovery of Banned Drugs and Market Screening

According to Babatunji, large quantities of banned and unregistered drugs were found in the market, raising serious concerns about public safety and regulatory compliance.

“What we have seen here is mind-boggling. We discovered products like Analgin injection and Gentamicin 280mg, which have long been banned by NAFDAC.”

Babatunji reiterated that NAFDAC has the legal authority to enter any premises suspected of selling illegal products, even by force if necessary.

“Our mandate empowers us to enter any premises when we reasonably suspect regulatory violations,” he said.

The operation involved screening all shops in the market, ensuring compliance with NAFDAC regulations.

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No Arrests Yet, But Full Investigation Underway

Despite the large seizure, Babatunji confirmed that no arrests had been made, as traders were not present at the time of the raid. However, he assured that further investigations would be conducted, and NAFDAC’s management would release more details in due course.

“Any product without a NAFDAC registration number has not gone through our approval process. The entire area will be screened, and the agency will remain on-site until this assignment is fully completed,” he added.

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Rising Concerns Over Fake and Unregistered Drugs

The raid in Aba comes amid increasing concerns over the circulation of counterfeit and unapproved pharmaceuticals in Nigeria, a problem that has led to serious health risks, including deaths from fake and substandard medications.

In recent months, NAFDAC has intensified its enforcement actions, including similar crackdowns in Anambra, Rivers, and Lagos States, where billions of naira worth of fake drugs were seized and destroyed.

The agency has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that only safe and effective drugs reach the public, urging traders and distributors to adhere strictly to regulatory guidelines.

With the Ekumi Drug Market now under full surveillance, authorities have promised strict enforcement measures to prevent the return of unwholesome pharmaceutical products.