LAGOS, Nigeria – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has raised alarm over the discovery of fake, banned, and unregistered drugs in three major open drug markets, warning that the findings could endanger millions of lives.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Director-General, disclosed this during a news conference in Lagos on Friday, March 14, 2025.
The agency conducted enforcement operations at the Idumota Open Drug Market in Lagos, the Ariaria Drug Market in Aba, and the Bridge Market in Onitsha, starting on February 10.
Adeyeye revealed that 100 truckloads of illicit drugs and narcotics were seized during the raids.
“What we found during our enforcement operations in Idumota, Aba, and Onitsha open drug markets can ruin a nation and reduce the quality of life of Nigerians,” Adeyeye said.
“If a patient with diabetes or hypertension takes some of the drugs we evacuated, such a person or people can die easily with what we found.”
In Onitsha and Aba, NAFDAC evacuated nearly 80 truckloads of drugs from markets and warehouses, some of which lacked proper ventilation.
The agency also discovered 12 truckloads of tramadol and four truckloads of codeine syrups, which were banned years ago, hidden in unconventional locations such as plumbing lines, fashion sections, and wood shops.
Adeyeye confirmed that 27 truckloads of drugs seized from the Idumota market have already been destroyed.
She emphasised that NAFDAC would continue its enforcement efforts until the markets relocate to coordinated wholesale centres, which are designed to ensure proper regulation and safety standards.
The enforcement operations concluded on 28 February in Idumota and Aba, and on 5 March in Onitsha.
Adeyeye stressed the importance of these actions in protecting public health, stating, “We have already destroyed 27 40-feet truckloads of drugs we evacuated from Idumota market.”
