KEY POINTS
- Authorities seized fake medicines, expired condoms, and banned opioids.
- NAFDAC seeks tougher penalties, including life imprisonment and death.
- Counterfeit drugs remain widespread in Nigeria’s informal markets.
As part of its largest statewide crackdown on fake medications, Nigeria’s drug enforcement agency on Wednesday demanded that anyone found trafficking illegal pharmaceutical drugs and counterfeit prescriptions face life in jail or the death penalty.
Nigeria intensifies fight against counterfeit medicines
According to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria has long suffered from counterfeit medications, especially antibiotics, painkillers, and anti-malarial medications.
According to NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye, the most recent operation, which was aided by security forces, confiscated a significant amount of prescription medications, expired condoms, antiretroviral medications given by the U.S. Agency for International Development, and counterfeit and improperly stored vaccines.
According to Adeyeye, authorities also seized oxytocin injections, which are used during labor, and Tafrodol, an opioid that is prohibited in Nigeria.
“With no regard for cold chain storage requirements, these products were found stacked in restrooms, beneath stairwells, and on rooftops at extremely high temperatures,” she added in a statement.
NAFDAC chief calls for life sentences, death penalty
Adeyeye called on legislators to change the drug and health laws so that individuals found guilty of such crimes face life in prison or the death penalty.
According to Reuters, other crimes that carry the death penalty in Nigeria include terrorism, treason, murder, and armed robbery. Nonetheless, the majority of death sentences have been commuted to life in prison since 2016.
Although the drug enforcement agency has conducted market raids in the past, the most recent operation, which started on February 9, is the biggest to yet. It targets the southern states of Anambra and Abia, as well as Lagos, the commercial hub.
Many fake medications are offered for sale in unlicensed markets in Nigeria, a nation of over 200 million people, without a prescription.
