The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control said it evacuated over 100 truckloads of substandard, falsified, and banned medicines and narcotics from Idumota market in Lagos State, Onitsha market in Abia state, and Aba market in Abia state, in six weeks.

This was disclosed in a press statement on Sunday signed by the Resident Consultant of the agency, Sayo Akintola.

The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Moji Adeyeye, said if the substandard and banned medicines were allowed in circulation, they could ruin the nation by reducing the quality of life of millions of Nigerians.

Adeyeye made the remarks in Lagos on Friday at a briefing while giving an update on the unprecedented enforcement exercise carried out in the three markers where unregistered, banned, expired or medicines with other violations worth over a trillion naira were confiscated.

She further disclosed that the agency concluded the enforcement exercise in Idumota and Aba on February 28, 2025, while the exercise still lingered in Onitsha until March 8.

“What we have found could ruin a nation. What we have found could destabilise a government. What we have found could reduce quality of life of millions of Nigerians,” she said, adding that “If you have diabetes, hypertension, which need daily treatment, such people could die easily with what we have found.”

The NAFDAC boss stated that with a large population of Nigerian youth below 40, the narcotics seized could take their lives, fuel banditry, and terrorism.

“Overall, she said over 100 40-footer truckloads were evacuated with 27 truckloads from Idumota, already destroyed while in Aba and Onitsha markets about 80 40-foot truckloads of unregistered, banned medicines and narcotics were seized and evacuated.

“For Aba and environ, she disclosed that 14 truckloads of violative medicines were evacuated from the Osisioma warehouse alone, four truckloads from the Ariara Road warehouse and ten truckloads of the medicines were seized from the markets.

“According to her, in Onitsha, there are 110 lines where they sell drugs, aside from the plumbing market, and the wood plank markets. From the plumbing section, Prof Adeyeye explained that warehouses were filled to the brim, without windows, with temperature more than 40 degrees Celsius, subjecting the medicines to degradation before the user starts to use them.

In that plumbing section, we knew through intelligence, three or four years ago, that something was going on there, adding that we were there with our police, and our staff and police narrowly escaped death,” the statement noted.

Adeyeye explained that the merchants of death, masquerading as medicine dealers among the shop owners, mobbed the police and NAFDAC staff to protect their illicit trade.

She added that about seven months ago at the Onitsha market, NAFDAC staff went on intelligence, and they almost killed two of them.

“They bloodied them, bleeding. This is the hazard that we go through every time in NAFDAC,” she said.

She said the agency evacuated ten 40-foot truckloads of tramadol from the plumbing, wood plank and the fashion lines of the market, also noting with dismay that about four truckloads of syrup with codeine that was banned almost seven years ago were also evacuated.

She, however, emphasised that the agency needed to conduct the enforcement in the markets with the purpose of saving the lives of Nigerians and fostering trade.

“NAFDAC is doing this first for public health, secondly to foster trade, and thirdly to reduce the scourge on our country,” she added.

The Benue State Government has officially declared a Lassa fever outbreak after confirming three deaths from five confirmed cases, amidst 40 suspected cases.

The announcement, made by the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Dr. Yanmar Ortese, at a press conference in Makurdi, underscores the severity of the situation and the urgent need for decisive action.

Dr. Ortese disclosed that the three fatalities, representing a 60% Case Fatality Rate (CFR), prompted a comprehensive risk assessment that led to the formal declaration of the outbreak.

“This represents a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 60%, and in light of these alarming figures, a comprehensive risk analysis was conducted, and today (Monday), we officially declare a Lassa fever outbreak in Benue State,” he stated.

The commissioner emphasized that the declaration serves as a critical call to action, demanding immediate, coordinated, and collaborative efforts to protect communities and effectively manage the outbreak.

He urged residents to adhere to preventive measures and seek prompt medical attention if they experience symptoms suggestive of Lassa fever.

The state government is mobilizing resources and coordinating with relevant health agencies to contain the spread of the disease and provide necessary support to affected individuals and communities.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a significant rise in Lassa fever cases, with 80 deaths and 413 confirmed cases across 11 states during Epidemiological Week 6 (February 3–9, 2025). Bauchi State has emerged as a focal point in the ongoing outbreak, with a large number of cases reported, leading to heightened concerns about the virus’s spread.

According to the NCDC, the case fatality rate (CFR) has increased to 19.4%, compared to 17.5% during the same period last year. Bauchi, along with Ondo and Edo states, accounts for the majority of confirmed cases, contributing to 73% of the total reported infections. This surge in cases has raised alarms as the state grapples with the challenges of containing the virus and preventing further fatalities.

While the number of new cases has decreased from 68 in Week 5 to 54 in Week 6, the high fatality rate remains a significant concern. The NCDC reports that the majority of affected individuals are between the ages of 21 and 30, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8. Bauchi has been identified as one of the high-risk areas, with increased efforts being made to improve surveillance, contact tracing, and healthcare worker training in the region.

The NCDC has deployed National Rapid Response Teams (NRRT) to Bauchi and neighboring states to enhance Lassa fever case management. These teams are working to provide essential medical supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPEs), Ribavirin, and thermometers, along with strengthening the response capabilities of local healthcare facilities.

Bauchi’s experience highlights some of the ongoing challenges in managing Lassa fever outbreaks, including delayed case presentations and poor health-seeking behavior in rural communities. Limited awareness and high treatment costs have also been identified as major barriers to effective control. As a result, the NCDC is focusing on community sensitization and raising awareness about early symptoms and the importance of seeking prompt medical care.

The NCDC has partnered with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the International Research Centre of Excellence (IRCE) to improve diagnosis, treatment, and overall outbreak response in Bauchi and other affected states.

To further curb the spread of the virus, the NCDC has announced a nationwide rodent control and awareness campaign, in collaboration with Breakthrough Action Nigeria (BA-N). The campaign aims to educate communities on the risks of rodent exposure and the importance of proper food storage and hygiene practices.

The NCDC urges residents of Bauchi and other affected states to take preventive measures, including maintaining proper hygiene, avoiding contact with rodents, and seeking medical attention early if symptoms such as fever, sore throat, or unexplained bleeding occur. The public is also advised to stay informed by visiting the NCDC website or calling the toll-free line: 6232.