The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted 277 cartons of counterfeit and unregistered Malamal Forte malaria drugs worth over ₦1.2 billion in a warehouse located in the Ilasa-Oshodi area of Lagos State.
The fake drugs, concealed in cartons labeled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg, were illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China and falsely declared as spare parts in the shipping container.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to eliminating counterfeit and substandard medicines from Nigeria, with the full support of the Presidency and Federal Ministry of Health.
The seizure is part of NAFDAC’s nationwide operation to protect public health and ensure only safe, quality medicines are available to Nigerians. According to NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, the seizure has prevented 500,000 Nigerians from taking the counterfeit anti-malaria medicine.
The agency will continue to intensify its operations to rid the country of harmful and substandard products.
This recent seizure highlights the ongoing efforts by NAFDAC to safeguard public health and combat the circulation of fake drugs in Nigeria.
