The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized over N1 trillion worth of banned, expired, and substandard medical products in a nationwide crackdown, while also sealing 11,000 shops. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday. However, she also raised concerns over threats to her life and the safety of NAFDAC staff, calling for increased protection as the agency intensifies its fight against counterfeit drugs.

The operation, which targeted major open drug markets in Onitsha, Aba, and Lagos, resulted in the confiscation of 87 truckloads of illicit drugs, including antiretroviral drugs donated by USAID and UNFPA, as well as male and female condoms. These items were found expired and repackaged for sale, undermining public health efforts. Adeyeye described the operation as the largest in NAFDAC’s history and part of the agency’s National Action Plan (NAP 2.0) 2023-2027, aimed at eliminating counterfeit medicines and safeguarding public health.

Adeyeye revealed shocking violations during the operation, including the improper storage of life-saving medications in toilets, staircases, and rooftops, exposing them to extreme temperatures that rendered them ineffective or harmful. She also highlighted the discovery of banned drugs like Tafradol, recently prohibited in India, and narcotics such as Tramadol and Rohypnol, which are linked to rising drug abuse and insecurity in Nigeria.

The NAFDAC DG called for stricter penalties, including life imprisonment and the death penalty, for counterfeit drug dealers. She urged the National Assembly to expedite the amendment of the NAFDAC Act and the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs Act to include these severe punishments. Adeyeye also emphasized the need to relocate open drug markets to coordinated wholesale centers within a year to improve regulatory compliance.

Despite the successes, Adeyeye expressed concerns over the dangers faced by NAFDAC operatives. She revealed that her life and those of her staff are under constant threat, citing an attempted murder six months ago and the kidnapping of a staff member’s child in Kano. Adeyeye disclosed that she lives with 24/7 police protection in Abuja and Lagos, stating, “I don’t have a life. I cannot go anywhere without police, and to me, that is not my way of living. But I don’t have a choice because we’ve got to save our country.”

The operation, which began on February 9, 2025, involved 1,100 security operatives, including military personnel, police, and Department of State Services (DSS) agents. So far, 40 suspects have been arrested and will face prosecution. A database of offending shops and their owners has been compiled for further legal action, and the seized drugs will be publicly destroyed in the cities where they were confiscated.

Adeyeye drew parallels between her current challenges and those faced by former NAFDAC DG Dora Akunyili, who was targeted by drug cartels for her efforts to combat counterfeit drugs. She reiterated her commitment to protecting public health, despite the risks, and called for collective efforts to rid Nigeria of illicit and substandard medical products.