The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken a major step in its ongoing fight against counterfeit and illicit pharmaceuticals with the destruction of fake, banned, substandard, and unwholesome drugs valued at over ₦55 billion in Oyo State and ₦10.19 billion in Kano State. The exercise underscores the agency’s renewed commitment to safeguarding public health and sanitizing Nigeria’s drug distribution system.
According to NAFDAC, the destroyed products were confiscated during sustained enforcement operations, intelligence-led raids, and routine regulatory inspections carried out across major drug markets, warehouses, and distribution hubs in both states. The seized items included fake and expired medicines, banned pharmaceutical products, unregistered drugs, falsified medical supplies, and other illicit substances that pose serious risks to human health.
In Oyo State, the destroyed drugs—estimated at over ₦55 billion—were largely recovered from notorious drug distribution centers and unauthorized storage facilities. These locations have long been identified as hotspots for the circulation of counterfeit and substandard medicines in the South-West region. NAFDAC officials explained that many of the products lacked proper labeling, registration numbers, or verifiable sources, making them unsafe for consumption.
Similarly, in Kano State, illicit pharmaceutical products worth ₦10.19 billion were destroyed following extensive enforcement actions across the state. Kano is a major commercial hub in Northern Nigeria, and NAFDAC noted that criminal networks often exploit its vast markets to distribute fake drugs across the region and beyond Nigeria’s borders. The agency said the destruction exercise was necessary to permanently remove these harmful products from circulation and prevent them from re-entering the supply chain.
Speaking on the development, NAFDAC reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance against the manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale of fake and illegal drugs. The agency warned that counterfeit medicines not only lead to treatment failure and drug resistance but also result in preventable deaths and long-term health complications. Officials stressed that the destruction exercise sends a strong message to offenders that regulatory violations will not be tolerated.
NAFDAC also called on the public, healthcare professionals, and drug vendors to support its efforts by reporting suspicious products and adhering strictly to regulatory guidelines. The agency emphasized the importance of purchasing medicines only from licensed pharmacies and verified sources, urging Nigerians to always check for NAFDAC registration numbers and proper packaging before using any pharmaceutical product.
The large-scale destruction in Oyo and Kano States reflects NAFDAC’s broader national strategy to strengthen drug regulation, enhance border surveillance, and collaborate with security agencies to dismantle criminal drug networks. As the agency continues its enforcement drive, Nigerians have been assured that protecting lives and ensuring the safety of medicines remain top priorities.
This decisive action marks another milestone in the ongoing battle against fake drugs in Nigeria and reinforces NAFDAC’s role as a key defender of public health nationwide.