Nigeria continues to struggle with the growing menace of counterfeit drugs, posing severe risks to public health and safety. Addressing this urgent issue, the newly elected president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Ibrahim Tanko Ayuba, has urged the National Assembly to amend the Fake Drug Act and strengthen regulatory measures to curb the proliferation of substandard medicines.
At his inaugural press briefing in Lagos, Pharm. Ayuba expressed deep concern over the alarming prevalence of fake drugs in circulation. He cited historical data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health, revealing that in 1988, 33% of drugs in the country were fake, with 7% proving fatal upon consumption. Further studies, including a 1998 report from the University of Lagos, found that nearly half of counterfeit drugs originated from Open Drug Markets (ODMs), while another 33% were linked to Patent Medicine Vendors. Current research now suggests that over 50% of medicines in circulation are either fake or substandard, underscoring the worsening crisis.
Pharm. Ayuba stressed the need for immediate action, calling on lawmakers to implement stricter laws and enforcement strategies to safeguard public health. He emphasized that without comprehensive reforms, Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector risks losing credibility, endangering lives, and undermining trust in the healthcare system.
“The influx of counterfeit drugs, food, and beverages has become a significant concern. Research-backed evidence indicates that Nigeria is experiencing a resurgence of fake and substandard drugs, with figures exceeding 50%, despite official estimates placing the numbers between 13% and 15%. While the Fake Drug Act was enacted during the 1999 transition, it has not been effectively enforced in recent years,” he stated.
Ayuba commended the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for recent enforcement efforts, particularly the shutdown of the Sabongari Drug Market following the launch of Nigeria’s first Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) in Kano. He called for full implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG) and harsher penalties for those involved in counterfeit drug production and distribution, including fines exceeding N20 million and life imprisonment.
“The landmark collaboration between NAFDAC and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) in January 2024 resulted in the sealing of the Sabongari Drug Market immediately after the first CWC was launched. CWCs serve as well-regulated drug centers intended to replace unregulated ODMs under the NDDG, which was introduced in 2015. Strengthening such regulatory measures is essential to eliminating the nearly 5 million unregistered drug-selling outfits operating in Nigeria’s rural and urban areas,” Ayuba noted.
He further urged the National Assembly to overhaul the existing Fake Drug and Unwholesome Food Act, proposing more stringent penalties, including life imprisonment or capital punishment for individuals engaged in counterfeit drug trade. “These fake drug dealers are, in reality, murderers. Tampering with life-saving medicines is a direct attack on human life,” he asserted.
The PSN president also addressed the enforcement of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act, which mandates that all drug-selling and dispensing facilities be registered with a Superintendent Pharmacist. However, he pointed out that compliance remains alarmingly low, with less than 25% of Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) adhering to the law. This noncompliance increases health risks for consumers who unknowingly purchase medications from unregulated sources.
“It is crucial for all levels of government to comply with existing pharmaceutical regulations to safeguard public health. Section 22 of the PCN Act mandates that any establishment stocking, selling, or dispensing drugs must be registered by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria. However, our findings indicate that even federal MDAs flout this law, actively stocking and distributing medicines without employing qualified pharmacists. This widespread impunity creates a dangerous environment for unsuspecting consumers,” Ayuba warned.
He highlighted that federal health institutions are complicit in this negligence, citing instances where job advertisements for health personnel deliberately excluded pharmacists, such as the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Benin. He also raised concerns about correctional facility health services, where drugs are stocked without engaging pharmacists, further distorting the country’s healthcare delivery system.
Ayuba criticized the Federal Ministry of Health for systematically diminishing the role of pharmacists over the past decade, excluding them from critical stakeholder consultations within the health sector. He vowed to challenge these systemic lapses, advocating for stronger regulatory enforcement to prevent the misuse and mismanagement of pharmaceutical products.
The PSN president reaffirmed the society’s commitment to tackling the fake drug crisis, ensuring regulatory compliance, and protecting the public from the devastating consequences of counterfeit medicines.
