The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday uncovered a major operation depot dealing in expired and falsified drugs at Umumeje village, Osisioma Ngwa area of Abia State.

NAFDAC disclosed this in a statement on X, saying it revealed that the illegal operation was being run from multiple buildings near the Ariaria International Market.

According to the agency, the expired medicines were repackaged and revalidated for resale, posing a significant health risk to consumers.

“Seized items consisted of expired potassium chloride, allergy medications, immune boosters, and cholesterol treatments,” the statement read.

“Machines used to rebrand and alter expiry dates were also discovered on-site. Despite efforts to reach him, he showed no concern for his detained family members,” the statement read.

The raid led to the arrest of several individuals associated with the operation. However, the prime suspect behind the illicit trade remains at large.

https://twitter.com/NafdacAgency/status/1890352992877949031?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

NAFDAC stated that the operation, conducted in collaboration with security agencies, is part of the Federal Government’s ongoing crackdown on the circulation of counterfeit drugs in the country.

The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating the distribution of substandard and falsified drugs in Nigeria, saying it is is currently reviewing its laws to impose stricter penalties on individuals and organisations involved in the production and distribution of dangerous pharmaceutical products.

Sokoto State has issued a stern warning to parents resisting polio immunisation, stressing that non-compliance will not be tolerated in the state’s fight to eradicate the disease.

In a directive aimed at curbing resistance, the state has mandated its officials to report any cases of parents hindering immunisation efforts during vaccination campaigns.

The directive was announced by Sokoto’s Deputy Governor, Idris Gobir, at a United Nations Representatives’ meeting held on Wednesday at the Command Guest Inn in Sokoto.

The meeting included local government chairmen, religious leaders, and traditional rulers.

Gobir’s announcement followed a report from the state’s Commissioner of Health, Dr. Faruk Abubakar, highlighting ongoing challenges in the battle against polio, including non-compliance from some parents and inaccuracies in data collection during immunisation drives.

“We already have a standing committee and sub-committees at the local and ward levels that are focused on tackling resistance to polio immunisation. Our government has the necessary resources, personnel, and capacity to eliminate the virus, but despite our efforts, the continued presence of polio in Sokoto remains a serious concern,” Gobir stated.

In her address, the UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Mrs. Christian Munduate, expressed concern over the rising number of polio cases in Sokoto North and South, warning that these areas have the highest number of polio infections in the country.

She also raised alarm about the widespread issue of fake fingerprint markings, where some parents and vaccinators falsely claim that children have been immunised, undermining efforts to eradicate the disease.

Munduate called for increased collaboration between government agencies, traditional leaders, and international partners to address these persistent challenges and ensure the success of immunisation campaigns.

The meeting saw contributions from various stakeholders, including a representative of the Sultan of Sokoto and District Head of Wurno, Kabir Alhassan, and the Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Health, Kabir Dauda, who delivered goodwill messages reinforcing the importance of collective action in the fight against polio.

Nigeria’s improved healthcare sector is attracting patients from across Africa and even the United States (U.S.A.) and the United Kingdom (UK), the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate has said.

The minister said the Federal Government would continue to invest in critical medical infrastructure and regulatory reforms to further improve the sector.

Pate said this while addressing reporters at the State House yesterday in Abuja after the second day of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The minister announced that the FEC approved N12 billion for the procurement of major diagnostic equipment, including three MRI machines and two CT scanners, for six federal hospitals across the country.

He said the investment would significantly improve diagnostic capabilities in the nation’s healthcare facilities.

The hospitals that will get the new equipment include the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) in Akwa Ibom; the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abeokuta, Ogun State; the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) in Ile-Ife, Osun State; the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Keffi, Nasarawa State; the Modibo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH) in Yola, Adamawa State; and the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) in Kebbi State.

“You can see that, piece by piece, we are rebuilding our health infrastructure. We are not just improving basic healthcare at the frontline, but also strengthening our tertiary institutions with critical equipment,” Pate said.

The minister stressed that Nigeria’s growing healthcare capabilities were already drawing international patients.

“This is already happening, including people from faraway places like the United Kingdom and the United States. Despite what we may want to believe about Nigeria’s healthcare system, there are good things happening. The transformation that the President promised is beginning to happen, and we need to sustain it,” he said.

Pate said the FEC, in a landmark decision with continental implications, also approved Nigeria’s ratification of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty.

The treaty, adopted by the African Union (AU) Heads of State in February 2019, is designed to enhance regulatory oversight of medicines and pharmaceuticals across Africa.