The Kano State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health following the seizure of counterfeit and unapproved drugs valued at more than N200 million across the state.
The crackdown, which was carried out on Saturday, May 23, 2026, by the Kano State Committee on Motor Parks and Other Public Places, targeted illegal drug storage locations within the Kano metropolis.
The development was announced on Sunday, May 24, 2026, in a statement issued by the Director of Public Enlightenment at the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, Balarabe Abdullahi-Kiru.
According to the statement, the confiscated drugs were not certified by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, raising serious concerns over their safety and quality.
The raid was jointly conducted by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The statement added that the operation was led by the Chairman of the committee, retired Major Adamu Abubakar-Usman, following intelligence reports and the state government’s ongoing efforts to rid markets of unsafe pharmaceutical products.
Speaking during the exercise, Abubakar-Usman revealed that the fake drugs were discovered in an abandoned building where they were allegedly stored under intense heat and unsanitary conditions.
“These drugs lacked NAFDAC certification and therefore pose a serious danger to public health, especially to women and children,” he said.
“Storing drugs under excessive heat and poor sanitary conditions can compromise their efficacy and cause serious harm to consumers, particularly when they are not approved by the relevant authorities.”
He stressed that the committee would continue collaborating with security and health agencies to combat the circulation of fake drugs and ensure offenders are brought to justice.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Policy and Special Development, Dr Danyaro Ali-Yakasai, urged residents to verify the authenticity of medicines before purchasing them and to report suspected dealers in counterfeit products.
He reiterated the state government’s determination to clamp down on activities capable of endangering the lives of citizens.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA Kano Command, Ya’u Malam-Yakubu, disclosed that the confiscated items included 55 cartons of Super Sexy, 144 cartons of Bold Brown/Body Bliss, 70 cartons of Lion King/Hygra, as well as three sacks containing empty drug packs.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that authorities have vowed to sustain the crackdown on the sale and distribution of fake and substandard medicines across the state.
