FG Launches Task Force to Tackle Counterfeit Drugs and Foods

NAFDAC announces the inauguration of the Federal Task Force by the Hon. Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, to combat counterfeit medicines and unsafe processed foods nationwide.

Empowered by the provisions of Cap C 34, the Task Force will coordinate a multi-sectoral approach to protect public health, safeguard the integrity of the healthcare system, and restore trust in the products consumed by Nigerians.

In recent months, NAFDAC has intensified enforcement efforts. In December 2023 and 2024, operations at Eziukwu Markets in Aba, supported by the Nigerian Police, DSS, and the Nigerian Army, resulted in the seizure of fake fruit juices, drinks, milk, and wines worth billions of naira.

Between February and March 2025, in a first-of-its-kind operation at Idumota, Onitsha, and Aba drug markets, over 137 trucks of counterfeit and substandard products valued at more than ₦1 trillion were evacuated and destroyed, with the support of 1,350 security personnel provided by the National Security Adviser.

These massive seizures, alongside numerous arrests, highlight the scale of the threat and NAFDAC’s unwavering resolve under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

The Agency will continue to strengthen enforcement, enhance surveillance, and leverage innovation to stay ahead of those undermining national health and safety standards.

NAFDAC calls on all stakeholders, government agencies, industry partners, and the public to join this mission. Through collaboration, heightened public awareness, and sustained action, the Agency remains committed to eradicating counterfeit drugs and unwholesome foods, protecting lives, and upholding the integrity of Nigeria’s markets.