By Yunus, Olawale
The alarming proliferation of substandard and falsified (SF) medicines in Nigeria, with devastating health and economic consequences, was the central focus of the inaugural Quarterly Webinar hosted by The Companion Abuja District, an association of Muslim Men in Business and the Professions, on September 27, 2025. High-level dignitaries and experts convened via Zoom to dissect the burden and proffer urgent solutions to a crisis described as “a citizen killing his/her fellow citizen”.
The Legislative Voice and Call for Technological Uplift
The webinar was chaired by Senator Salis Afolabi Shuaib (SAS), FNCS, the Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District and Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security.
In his remarks, the Distinguished Senator appreciated the Keynote Speaker, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye (Director General of NAFDAC), the Guest Speaker, Dr. Murtala A. Ngabea, the webinar organisers, and all other participants in the virtual discourse of national importance.
Crucially, Senator Shuaib challenged NAFDAC to enhance its operations, stating that the agency “should do more in the deployment of technology in its health care service delivery”. He also urged NAFDAC to work with other sister Agencies of Government in the fight against substandard and falsified medicines in Nigeria.
Demonstrating a commitment from the legislative arm, the Senator declared that he “equally proposed to use his legislative capacity to support NAFDAC in the achievement of its core mandate”.
The Alarming Scope of the Crisis
The District Ameer/President, Dr. Imran Saheed Adekunle (FCA, FIMC), set a stark tone, noting that individuals dealing in fake medicines are motivated by the desire to make super normal profits at the expense of unsuspecting Nigerians. He condemned the business as “immoral, evil, and illegal” and lamented that citizens are now caught between “the Devil and Deep Blue Sea” as medicines intended to enhance their health are often fake, worsening their situation. He called for citizens to join NAFDAC in the fight, describing the situation as “a citizen killing his/her fellow citizen through substandard medicine business pursuits”.
Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye FAS, Director-General of NAFDAC, highlighted that the problem of SF medical products is a global threat. She clarified the distinction between:
Substandard Medicines:
Authorized medical products that fail to meet quality specifications, such as containing too little active ingredient or degrading from improper storage.
Falsified Medicines
Medical products that deliberately or fraudulently misrepresent their identity, composition, or source.
Prof. Adeyeye emphasized that Nigeria, being an import-dependent country for medicines, is highly exposed to the risk of SF products. She estimated that thousands of Nigerians fall victim to these products every year, resulting in unnecessary suffering, disability, and death.
Health and Economic Fallout
Dr. Ngabea Murtala A., Consultant Physician/Health Economist and Cardiologist, underscored the severe public health risks, pointing out that the alarming trend of selling drug combinations, or “mixes,” without prescription can lead to overdose, drug resistance, and serious health complications, including stomach ulcers, liver, and kidney diseases.
Dr. Murtala noted that desperate Nigerians, seeking affordable healthcare, are now gambling with their lives as social media has turned into an unregulated pharmacy. He detailed the multidimensional and multifaceted effects of SF products, which include Mortality, Morbidity, Antimicrobial resistance, financial losses, the Undermining of the health care system, and Loss of productivity due to disabilities and mortality.
A Roadmap for Action: Solutions Proffered
The webinar’s deliberations resulted in a consensus on several critical areas for intervention:
Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks:
This includes strategic partnerships with security agencies, Customs, and NDLEA, and implementing robust inspection protocols at borders and markets. Experts stressed the need to Enact stricter penalties for counterfeiters and enhance NAFDAC’s capacity through increased funding and staffing.
Improving Supply Chain Security:
Recommendations include securing the pharmaceutical supply chain by adopting technology-driven track-and-trace systems, such as barcoding and serialization. The immediate dismantling of open drug markets was called for, as their continued operation makes achieving a sustainable reduction in counterfeit drugs a difficult task.
Technology-Based Solutions:
NAFDAC’s strategies include leveraging technology, with 70% of its processes now digitized. Key tools deployed are the Mobile Authentication Service (MAS), which allows consumers to verify authenticity by sending a PIN from a scratch sticker, and the use of Greenbook App and Scan2Verify App to verify registered products.
Cross-Border Monitoring:
To combat the smuggling of SFMs, often rebranded by foreign manufacturers, experts called for intensified prosecutions targeted at corrupt officials, smugglers, illegal distributors, and buyers.
Public Awareness and Collaboration
Educating consumers about the dangers of SF medicines and how to identify genuine products is vital. Fostering partnerships among government, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and international organizations like WHO and INTERPOL is necessary to dismantle SF networks.
The manufacture and supply of substandard and falsified medicines is an issue that demands priority attention. The recommendations proffered by the regulator, the medical practitioner, and the legislator aim at eliminating SFMs and boosting the health standards of all Nigerians.