Onitsha traders hand over N435 million worth of substandard drugs to NAFDAC

Traders at the Bridge Head Drug Market in Onitsha, Nigeria, have voluntarily surrendered substandard, falsified, and expired drugs valued at N435 million to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for destruction. The market's Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mr. Chukwuleta Ndubisi, handed over 192 consignments, noting that traders surrendered the products as part of a collective effort to cleanse the market.

Ndubisi reported that more than 400 cartons of adulterated drugs were recovered between December 2025 and June 2026. He praised the market task force and executive members for their support in sanitizing the market and eliminating fake drugs. "The primary aim of my leadership is to sanitize the drug market," Ndubisi said. "I came with a reform agenda, and while some traders believe it has caused them inconvenience, we remain committed to eliminating fake and substandard medicines from the market."

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The primary aim of my leadership is to sanitise the drug market. I came with a reform agenda, and while some traders believe it has caused them inconvenience, we remain committed to eliminating fake and substandard medicines from the market.

The Deputy Director for NAFDAC's South-East and South-South Directorates, Mr. Omoyeni Tunji, commended the market leadership for their collaboration with the agency. He confirmed that the seized products would be transported to NAFDAC's destruction facility in Awka for disposal. Tunji also praised NAFDAC management and the Federal Government for their ongoing efforts to combat the production, distribution, and sale of falsified and counterfeit medicines nationwide.

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The seized products would be transported to the agency’s destruction facility in Awka for disposal.