Fake malaria drugs worth ₦1.2bn busted in Lagos — NAFDAC strikes again

By: Akinde Oluwaseun

It happened in Lagos. A warehouse in Ilasa-Oshodi was raided. Inside? 277 cartons of fake malaria medicine. Not just any medicine — Malamal Forte, a drug many depend on. But these were counterfeit. Worth over ₦1.2 billion. That’s serious money. Serious danger.

NAFDAC’s team uncovered the stash hidden inside cartons labeled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg. Sneaky, right? The drugs were smuggled in from China, disguised as spare parts to dodge customs checks. But the agency wasn’t fooled.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Director-General, called it part of a bigger fight. “We’re working hard, nationwide, to keep Nigerians safe,” she said. Ports, warehouses — no place is off limits. And with the government backing them up, they’re not slowing down.

This isn’t the first time. Fake drugs have been flooding the market for years, threatening lives and making malaria harder to treat. Nigeria bears a heavy burden — about 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of deaths, according to WHO. Fake meds only make things worse.

NAFDAC’s message is clear: they won’t stop until these dangerous fakes are gone. And they’re ready to keep fighting, no matter how deep the problem runs.

Because when it comes to health, there’s no room for shortcuts. Not in Nigeria. Not ever.