Share
Olugbemi. Adeyinka Ogunleye
1 month ago
Overview
Real Story Behind Nigeria’s Drug Market Raid
The narrative surrounding Nigeria’s recent drug market raid has been dangerously skewed. What many perceive as heavy-handed overreach is, in reality, a complex struggle against a deeply entrenched public health crisis. At the heart of the controversy is NAFDAC’s recent crackdown on open drug markets, which have long fueled the circulation of fake and substandard medications across the country. The raids in Onitsha, Aba, and Idumota led to the closure of thousands of shops, disrupting not only the illicit drug trade but also neighboring businesses that indirectly shield some of these medicine dealers.
Buried beneath layers of misinformation and emotional reactions is the alarming reality: the rampant sale of unregulated and counterfeit medications, a practice that directly threatens the lives of Nigerians. Responding to allegations that NAFDAC’s actions disrupt trade, the agency’s director-general, Mojisola Adeyeye, defended the crackdown. “People have been telling us we are disturbing trade. We are not disturbing trade. We are protecting lives. We are protecting our young people from becoming useless. But they are telling us that we are going to where drug shops are not,” she said.
Adeyeye also highlighted a critical issue: smuggled and unregistered drugs are often stored in inappropriate locations, including plumbing sections, posing a significant security risk. With controlled substances easily accessible through illicit channels, the need for stricter enforcement has never been more urgent.
More: https://businessday.ng/health/article/real-story-behind-nigerias-drug-market-raid/#google_vignette
