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.

“Three years ago, we went to the plumbing session at the Onitsha head bridge, they almost killed our staff and the police. They overwhelmed us, but we got intelligence reports that many of these drugs are being kept in sections that are not for drugs. We continued intelligence and we know that we couldn’t go there ourselves. That is why we called the National Security Adviser. We have 1,000 forces working with us: 400 in Onitsha; 350 in Aba and 250 in Idumota.”

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The director-general emphasized that the unregulated drugs were causing harm, stating that they destroy the liver and kidneys when used at dangerous levels.

She cited Tafradol, a combination drug that has just been banned in India but is still prevalent in Nigeria, as a prime example, highlighting the urgent need to sanitise the drug distribution system, which seems impossible without decisive action.

Describing the deplorable storage conditions of these drugs, she explained that they were stored in unsanitary and unregulated environments, lacking windows and proper ventilation, leading to degradation.

She detailed violations, including unregistered premises and practitioners, and the absence of good distribution practices. She described finding drugs in locations like toilets, unventilated warehouses, and concealed in deceptive packaging.

“The products that are supposed to be in the refrigerator, even some in the freezer, are out there and they will sell. And the person will not get well. The person will die,” Adeyeye said.

She further warned of the devastating societal effects of potent drug misuse, suggesting that “these are all very strong drugs that can mess people, that can turn a child to a rapist, to a bandit, because drugs can control the way people think.”

Adeyeye emphasised that the ongoing operation was a crucial step towards safeguarding the health and well-being of the Nigerian population.

Flawed distribution system

According to a concerned Nigerian who simply identified as Nwako, the current drug distribution system, rooted in the colonial-era Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor Licence (PPMVL), is dangerously flawed and significantly deviates from global best practices.

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The PPMVL allows non-pharmacists to handle over-the-counter drugs, undermining professional pharmacy standards and treating drugs as mere commodities rather than potent substances, he stated in an opinion piece seen by BusinessDay.

This system has led to unqualified individuals, including school dropouts and illiterates, handling drugs, posing a severe public health risk.

Internationally, pharmacists are the sole authorized drug handlers, with stringent educational requirements, including a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and specialised postgraduate training.

Even seemingly harmless over-the-counter drugs, like paracetamol, can have serious consequences if misused, Nwako pointed out highlighting the necessity of professional oversight.

Opposition of NAFDAC

Nwako strongly condemns calls to oppose NAFDAC and PCN’s regulatory interventions, emphasising that human lives are more valuable than financial gain.

He urges the permanent closure of these markets and their replacement with the Coordinated Drug Distribution Network, as recommended by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and adopted by the government.

Additionally, he criticised the National Assembly’s recent bill supporting a separate regulatory body for Pharmacy Technicians and Technologists. He argued that globally, only Pharmacy Technicians exist under a single pharmacy council, and there is no recognized cadre of “pharmacy technologists.” pharmacy technology is a postgraduate program strictly for pharmacists. Nwako finds it troubling that lawmakers would support a parallel council to PCN.

Furthermore, he advocates for stricter qualifications for those handling over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, proposing that only certified Pharmacy Technicians from accredited schools should be allowed to dispense such medicines. He suggests replacing PPMVL with “Pharmacy Technician Medicine Vendor Licence” (PTMVL) to ensure only trained professionals manage OTC drugs in the absence of pharmacists.

He called on NAFDAC and PCN to intensify their campaigns against individuals prioritising profit over public health. He stressed that the PSN-approved coordinated drug distribution system must replace open drug markets, which they describe as “death traps.”