NAFDAC raids Abia drug market seizes banned products
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has conducted a raid at the Ekumi drug market in Aba, targeting unregistered and banned pharmaceutical products.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, the Deputy Director of Monitoring and Enforcement and Federal Task Force, South-South, South-East, Pharmacist Omoyeni Babatunji, stated that the operation was a national assignment aimed at ridding the market of unsafe and unwholesome drugs.
He explained that the raid was part of an inter-agency collaboration involving NAFDAC and various security agencies and was being carried out simultaneously in three different locations within the region.
Babatunji revealed that a significant quantity of banned and unregistered drugs was discovered in the market, adding that authorities would screen shops individually to ensure compliance.
When asked about the absence of traders during the search, he emphasised that NAFDAC is legally empowered to enter any premises, even by force if necessary, when it suspects that illegal or unsafe products are being sold.
“We are here for a national assignment, coordinated by the South-East zonal director. I am overseeing the operation in Aba, specifically at the Ariaria International Market,” Babatunji stated.
“Our primary objective is to identify and seize unregistered products. What we have found so far is alarming. Banned drugs such as Analgin injection and Gentamicin 280mg, which have long been prohibited by NAFDAC, are still in circulation.”
He further explained that the operation was intelligence-driven, with prior groundwork laid by the Department of State Services, the Police, and the Army before NAFDAC enforcement teams moved in to execute the raid.
“We have currently taken control of the market, but no arrests have been made because traders were not present today. However, we will meticulously screen every shop as mandated by our regulations.”
Babatunji assured that NAFDAC’s management would provide further details on the operation in due course, reiterating the agency’s commitment to ensuring public health and safety.
