Nigerian Government Launches Federal Task Force To Fight Counterfeit Drugs, Unwholesome Foods

Nigerian Government Launches Federal Task Force To Fight Counterfeit Drugs, Unwholesome Foods

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The Nigerian government has inaugurated a federal task force to fight counterfeit drugs and unwholesome processed foods, as part of efforts to safeguard public health and restore confidence in the nation’s food and medicine supply chain.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

According to the statement, the task force was launched by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate.

The agency said the task force, empowered by Cap C34 laws, will spearhead a coordinated, multi-sectoral response to protect the integrity of the healthcare system.

“Recent operations underscore this commitment,” the statement read.

“Between February and March 2025, NAFDAC, with support from the National Security Adviser and 1350 security operatives, executed unprecedented raids at major drug markets in Idumota, Onitsha, and Aba.”

The agency added that the operations led to the evacuation and destruction of over 137 truckloads of counterfeit and substandard products worth more than N1trillion, alongside multiple arrests.

“These operations led to the evacuation and destruction of over 137 truckloads of counterfeit and substandard products worth more than N1trillion, alongside multiple arrests.”

The agency stressed that the renewed enforcement drive sends a clear message that Nigeria would not tolerate the circulation of harmful products.

“This renewed enforcement drive sends a clear message: Nigeria will not tolerate the circulation of harmful products,” the statement read.

NAFDAC urged government agencies, industry stakeholders, partners, and the public to collaborate in ensuring markets remain safe and citizens are protected.

Nigeria has long struggled with the menace of counterfeit medicines and unsafe food products, a challenge that has claimed thousands of lives and undermined public confidence in the healthcare system.

According to the World Health Organisation, substandard and falsified medical products are particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, with Africa accounting for a significant proportion of the global burden.

In Nigeria, fake drugs have been linked to failed treatments, drug resistance, and preventable deaths, while unsafe processed foods have contributed to widespread foodborne illnesses.

NAFDAC, established in 1993, has led several crackdowns over the years, but weak enforcement, porous borders, and the vast scale of illicit trade have made the problem persistent.

The creation of the Federal Task Force represents the latest in a series of government interventions aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight and prosecuting offenders.

Past high-profile raids, such as the closure of the open drug market in Onitsha in 2019, have been hailed as major wins, but experts say sustained political will and public cooperation are essential to achieving lasting results.