The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) closed down two medicine stores and a pharmacy located in the Idumota and Surulere areas of Lagos.
The closures on Thursday November 30th, were a result of the stores being involved in the sale of unregistered and controlled pharmaceuticals, the Agency said.
Mr. Afolabi Aderemi, Deputy Director at NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, explained that the operation was carried out based on intelligence reports received about the activities of these stores. Aderemi emphasized the importance of taking action against the sale of controlled drugs that should not be available for purchase by individuals or pharmacies, as outlined by international conventions.
He stated, “We are here today because we received a tip-off that controlled drugs are being sold in these shops. There are 71 drugs that are prohibited from being sold by individuals or pharmacies, and we have evidence that these sealed-up shops are involved in illegal practices.”
Aderemi emphasized that NAFDAC is committed to combatting organized crime and making efforts to deter people from purchasing unregistered drugs. The owners of the closed establishments have been summoned to the NAFDAC office for further investigation.
