NAFDAC Tackles Fake Drugs, Unwholesome Foods in Ebonyi: Taskforce Inaugurated to Safeguard Public Health In a bid to protect the health and wellbeing of Nigerians, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a taskforce in Ebonyi State to combat the growing menace of fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods. The taskforce, which was inaugurated in Abakaliki, brings together key stakeholders from NAFDAC, the Ebonyi State Ministry of Health, the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Police Force. According to NAFDAC officials, the taskforce aims to enforce standards, coordinate intelligence-driven surveillance, and remove illegal products from the market. Its objective is to support legitimate manufacturers and traders while ensuring that compliant businesses are not undermined by counterfeiters and illegal operators. To achieve this, the taskforce will carry out coordinated market inspections and rapid testing, with transparent reporting to the Federal Taskforce on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods. The Chairman of the Federal Taskforce, Dr. Martin Iluyomade, highlighted the taskforce's legal backing from an Act of the National Assembly, making it a powerful tool in the fight against fake drugs and unwholesome foods. The Hon. Commissioner for Health in Ebonyi State, Dr. Moses Ekuma, described the circulation of harmful drugs and unhealthy foods as a serious threat to human existence, emphasizing the need for collective action to curb this menace. The inauguration of this taskforce is a significant step towards safeguarding public health in Nigeria. With the increasing presence of counterfeit drugs and unwholesome foods in our markets, it is imperative that we take a proactive approach to address this issue. By working together, we can prevent the untold suffering and loss of lives that result from the consumption of fake or substandard products. In Nigeria, where the healthcare system is already overstretched, the circulation of fake drugs and unwholesome foods can have devastating consequences. It is heartening to see NAFDAC taking a lead role in this fight, and we hope that this taskforce will be a success story in the battle against these threats to public health.