FG launches federal task force to fight counterfeit drugs and unwholesome foods

DDM News

(DDM) – The Federal Government has inaugurated a high-powered task force to combat counterfeit medicines and unsafe processed foods in a renewed effort to protect public health and restore trust in Nigeria’s food and drug supply chain.

DDM gathered that the development was confirmed on Friday, August 8, 2025, in a statement issued by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

According to the agency, the task force was officially launched by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.

It will operate under the legal authority of Cap C34 laws, empowering it to coordinate a multi-sectoral crackdown on the circulation of dangerous products that threaten lives and undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s healthcare system.

NAFDAC explained that recent enforcement actions highlight the seriousness of the initiative.

Between February and March 2025, the agency, working alongside the Office of the National Security Adviser and 1,350 security operatives, carried out sweeping raids on major open drug markets in Idumota, Onitsha, and Aba.

The operations resulted in the seizure and destruction of over 137 truckloads of counterfeit and substandard products valued at more than ₦1 trillion.

Multiple arrests were also made during the raids.

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

The agency called on other government bodies, industry stakeholders, international partners, and members of the public to actively collaborate in ensuring the nation’s markets remain safe and citizens are protected from hazardous goods.

Nigeria has struggled for decades with the scourge of fake drugs and unsafe food items, a crisis that has claimed thousands of lives, contributed to failed medical treatments, and worsened antimicrobial resistance.

According to the World Health Organisation, substandard and falsified medical products are disproportionately prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, with Africa bearing a heavy share of the global burden.

Within Nigeria, the issue has not only endangered health but has also eroded public trust in healthcare delivery, especially in rural communities where regulation is weakest.

Since its establishment in 1993, NAFDAC has led numerous crackdowns.

However, challenges such as porous borders, weak enforcement capacity, and the vast scale of illicit trade have made the problem persist.

Past victories, including the 2019 closure of the open drug market in Onitsha, were celebrated as milestones but also revealed the need for sustained political will.

With the creation of the Federal Task Force, health experts say the government has an opportunity to institutionalise tougher oversight, enforce stiffer penalties, and build long-term systems to protect Nigerians from deadly counterfeits and unwholesome foods.

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