By Okafor Joseph, SpringNewsNG Reporter

The war against counterfeit pharmaceuticals in Nigeria has intensified as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) escalates its enforcement actions at Ọgbọ Ọgwụ Market, Onitsha—the largest open drug market in Africa.

NAFDAC’s Operation and Its Impact

In a recent large-scale raid, NAFDAC seized fake and expired drugs worth millions of naira, sparking mixed reactions among stakeholders. While the agency’s commitment to eradicating counterfeit medicines is widely applauded, concerns over alleged misconduct by security operatives and the economic repercussions of prolonged market closures have surfaced.

Counterfeit drugs, illicitly manufactured to imitate genuine medications, pose significant health risks. According to Interpol, many fake drugs contain harmful substances such as mercury, arsenic, rat poison, and even cement. Some lack essential active ingredients, while others contain dangerously low dosages, contributing to antimicrobial resistance—a growing global health crisis.

NAFDAC’s Role in the Fight Against Fake Drugs

As Nigeria’s primary regulatory body for pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water, and chemicals, NAFDAC has been at the forefront of combating counterfeit drugs. This mission was notably championed by the late Dora Akunyili, former NAFDAC Director-General, who once described Ọgbọ Ọgwụ Market as “a den of criminals.”

On Monday, a team led by Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s Director for the South East Zone, stormed the market, confiscating substandard, expired, banned, and repackaged drugs. Some unscrupulous traders were found disguising counterfeit drugs in containers of well-known pharmaceutical brands, deceiving unsuspecting consumers. Iluyomade emphasized that these illegal practices pose severe health risks to the public.

This is the second major crackdown on Ọgbọ Ọgwụ Market, following a 2007 operation under Akunyili that led to a total shutdown. The recent enforcement action has again resulted in the market’s closure, igniting economic concerns among traders.

Government and Legal Reactions

Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has expressed unwavering support for NAFDAC’s fight against fake drugs. However, he also visited Ọgbọ Ọgwụ to investigate why adjacent markets, including the Plumbing Materials Market, were shut down alongside the drug market.

Governor Soludo stressed the need for fairness and transparency in enforcing regulations, ensuring that innocent traders are not unjustly affected.

Prominent legal practitioner Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor has also voiced strong condemnation of counterfeit drug operations in Nigeria, fully backing NAFDAC’s efforts. However, he cautioned against indiscriminate punishment and wrongful accusations, urging law enforcement to profile offenders accurately.

Ejiofor referenced English jurist William Blackstone’s principle: “It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.” He further called on security agencies to differentiate between genuine traders and criminal elements.

Allegations of Security Operative Misconduct

Ejiofor also raised alarm over reports of looting and misconduct by security operatives at Ọgbọ Ọgwụ Market. According to the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (InterSociety), security agents allegedly stole goods worth hundreds of millions of naira during the raid. A formal petition has been submitted to NAFDAC’s Director-General, Governor Soludo, and other authorities, but no official response has been issued.

Economic and Security Concerns

The extended closure of Ọgbọ Ọgwụ Market and its surrounding businesses has fueled concerns about its economic and security implications for Anambra State. Comparisons have been drawn to a similar operation in Lagos, where authorities swiftly executed enforcement while allowing genuine traders to return to business without incidents of looting.

Ejiofor has urged NAFDAC to leverage surveillance footage to identify actual perpetrators rather than enforcing collective punishment. He has also called for an independent investigation into allegations of security misconduct to ensure accountability.

A Call for Responsible Enforcement

Ejiofor delivered a stern warning to those involved in the production and sale of counterfeit drugs: “Desist now! Your actions send thousands of innocent souls to their early graves. This is one of the most grievous crimes imaginable, deserving the harshest punishments under the law.”

While the battle against fake drugs must persist, it must be fought with integrity, transparency, and due process. Innocent traders should not bear the brunt of the crackdown, and law enforcement agencies must uphold ethical standards.

The Way Forward

Nigeria’s fight against counterfeit pharmaceuticals remains crucial, and NAFDAC’s role is indispensable. However, achieving lasting progress requires a balanced approach—punishing offenders while protecting law-abiding traders.

The reopening of Ọgbọ Ọgwụ Market under strict regulatory oversight is a necessary step toward economic recovery and sustained efforts to eliminate counterfeit drugs.

The war against fake drugs must be won, but justice must never be compromised.