The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated a new federal task force to tackle the widespread menace of counterfeit drugs and unwholesome processed foods in Nigeria.
The director-general of NAFDAC, speaking at the launch ceremony in Abuja, Monday, stated the urgent need for coordinated action to protect public health and restore trust in the nation’s healthcare and food systems.
The task force, backed by legal authority under Cap C 34, will operate with a multi-sectoral strategy aimed at aggressive enforcement, surveillance, and public awareness.
“This is not just a regulatory move, it is a national health emergency. Lives are at stake, and our response must be swift, decisive, and sustained,” the director-general said.
In a recent demonstration of its commitment, NAFDAC carried out large-scale operations between February and March 2025 at major drug markets in Onitsha and Ariaria.
These operations led to the seizure and destruction of over 100 truckloads of counterfeit and substandard products, valued at more than ₦1 trillion.
Several illegal traders were arrested, and a variety of fake medicines and unsafe food products were confiscated.