The notorious enclave called Cemetery Market, Aba, Abia State, in Southeast Nigeria can be said to be a cat with nine lives.
The hub keeps rising from its ruins every time security agents storm it for arrest and destruction of fake products.
In the past 12 months alone, the hub has experienced not less than three raids by officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), aided by security operatives drawn from the Nigerian Army, Police and Civil Defence Corps. A couple of days back, a dawn raid on the market by NAFDAC took place.
This market is infamous for being a hub for Africa’s largest cartel involved in manufacturing fake wines and other beverages.
According to NAFDAC’s director-general, Mojis Diya, the market is a “haven for the largest cartel ring for the manufacture of fake wines and beverages in Africa.”
The agency’s operation aimed to curb the circulation of fake and substandard products in Nigeria.
During the raid, NAFDAC officials discovered over 240 shops and factories producing harmful products, including fake wines, soft drinks, and consumables.
The products were manufactured in filthy conditions, using water from unhygienic sources, harmful chemicals, and cloned packaging materials.
The agency’s officials were shocked by the sheer scale of the counterfeiting operation, with thousands of fake products seized during the raid.
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Some of the counterfeit products seized included fake versions of popular brands such as Seaman Schnapps, Hennessy, Carlo Rossi, and Smirnoff Ice.
The estimated value of products confiscated during the operation, which took place on December 15, 2024, was a staggering N5 billion.
This figure represents the street value of the seized products and gives an indication of the enormous profits being made by the counterfeiters.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State was praised by NAFDAC for his support in the operation, dubbed “Operation Clean Up Aba.”
The agency also acknowledged the cooperation of the mayor of Aba South, the interim management committee of the market, and other stakeholders.
The success of the operation was attributed to the collaborative efforts of all parties involved.
The menace of fake drugs in Nigeria has become a significant public health concern, posing a threat to the lives of millions of people.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of counterfeit medicines, with an estimated 10–30% of medicines in circulation being fake.
This is a staggering figure, considering the country’s large population and the widespread use of medicines to treat various health conditions.
Fake drugs are not only ineffective but also often contain toxic substances that can cause serious harm or even death.
In Nigeria, many people have fallen victim to fake drugs, with some suffering from severe side effects, while others have lost their lives.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that many Nigerians rely on informal markets and street vendors for their medicines, making it difficult to track the origin and authenticity of the drugs.
NAFDAC has been working tirelessly to combat the menace of fake drugs in Nigeria.
The agency has implemented various measures, including the use of technology to track and trace medicines, as well as the establishment of a national drug distribution system.
However, despite these efforts, the problem of fake drugs persists, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to addressing this issue.
