Fake Malaria Drugs Worth ₦1.2bn Intercepted In Lagos
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has intercepted counterfeit malaria medicines valued at more than ₦1.2bn in Lagos.
The agency, in a statement on Friday via its official X handle, said its operatives raided a warehouse in the Ilasa-Oshodi area of the state, where 277 cartons of the fake Malamal Forte drugs were discovered.
“NAFDAC has intercepted 277 cartons of counterfeit and unregistered Malamal Forte malaria drugs, valued at over ₦1.2 billion, in a warehouse located in the Ilasa-Oshodi area of Lagos State,” the statement read.
According to NAFDAC, the fake products were concealed in cartons labelled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg and were illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China.
The consignment was falsely declared as spare parts to evade detection.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the interception was part of the agency’s sustained nationwide operations aimed at protecting public health.
“This seizure is part of NAFDAC’s sustained nationwide operation to ensure that only safe, quality medicines are available to Nigerians,” Adeyeye said.
She explained that the agency had intensified surveillance at ports and warehouses, working closely with security agencies to stop smugglers from flooding Nigerian markets with dangerous drugs.
Adeyeye added that the agency’s fight against counterfeiters had been strengthened by the full backing of the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Health.
The agency stressed that the raid served as a warning to importers and distributors that it would not relent in ridding the market of harmful medicines capable of endangering lives.
Counterfeit and substandard drugs remain a major health challenge in Nigeria, where malaria continues to account for one of the highest disease burdens globally. The World Health Organisation estimates that Nigeria contributes 27 per cent of global malaria cases and 31 per cent of malaria deaths.
Public health experts warn that the circulation of fake antimalarial drugs not only threatens lives but also worsens drug resistance, undermining years of progress in the fight against malaria.
In 2024, the agency destroyed smuggled, expired, and fake drugs estimated at about ₦11bn in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
