The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken strong action against the sales of unregistered, fake, and harmful drugs in some areas of Lagos. Recently, the agency sealed off two drug shops and a pharmacy in Idumota and Surulere for selling controlled and unregistered drugs. The two shops in Idumota are owned by Blue Choice Pharmaceuticals Ltd, while the pharmacy in Surulere is owned by VaticanBell Pharmacy. In addition, a small drug warehouse owned by Global One Word Healthcare Limited at Coker Village, Orile Iganmu, was also sealed for failing to present its poison book.
Control drugs are narcotic products that fall under different schedules. Mr Declan Ugwu, a clinical pharmacist and deputy director of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate at NAFDAC, expressed his dismay at seeing such drugs in the open market. He noted that the Federal Ministry of Health is the only authorized body responsible for issuing drugs to general medical stores where pharmacies can obtain the products in recorded form. Seeing such drugs being sold in the open market is an aberration.

A Deputy Director of NAFDAC, Mr Afolabi Aderemi, said the operation was carried out after receiving an intelligence report about the shops. He explained that by international convention, seventy-one (71) drugs ought not to be sold by individuals or pharmacies. The evidence available indicates that the shops sealed off are involved in illegal business. Mr Aderemi noted that the owners of the shops are invited to the NAFDAC office for questioning.

The First Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Medicine Dealers Association, Mr. Innocent Ezennia, expressed his support for NAFDAC’s efforts to sanitize the business area. He promised that the association would continue to work with NAFDAC to make their job seamless whenever they come for raids or enforcement.