The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted counterfeit malaria medicines worth over ₦1.2 billion in Lagos State.

In a statement posted on its official X handle on Friday, the agency said operatives raided a warehouse in the Ilasa-Oshodi area, where they discovered 277 cartons of unregistered Malamal Forte drugs.

“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 agency confirmed.

According to NAFDAC, the fake drugs were concealed in cartons labelled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg and illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China. The consignment was falsely declared as spare parts to evade detection.

NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the seizure as part of a broader crackdown on counterfeit medicines threatening public health.

“This seizure is part of NAFDAC’s sustained nationwide operation to protect public health and ensure only safe, quality medicines are available to Nigerians,” she said.

Adeyeye added that the agency had intensified monitoring at ports and warehouses, working closely with security agencies to block smugglers from flooding Nigerian markets with substandard and dangerous products.

She further noted that the support of the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Health has boosted NAFDAC’s capacity to combat counterfeiters.

The agency warned importers and distributors that it would not relent in its efforts to rid the market of fake drugs capable of endangering lives.

Broader Health Impact

Counterfeit medicines remain a major public health challenge in Nigeria, where malaria continues to claim thousands of lives annually. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that Nigeria accounts for 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of malaria deaths worldwide.

Experts warn that circulation of fake antimalarial drugs not only puts lives at risk but also contributes to drug resistance, undermining years of progress in malaria control.

NAFDAC has stepped up its war against counterfeit drugs in recent years. In 2024, the agency destroyed smuggled, expired, and fake medicines valued at about ₦11bn in Ibadan, Oyo State.