- NAFDAC seized illegal drugs worth N21B in 2022-2023, but counterfeits remain widespread.
- Experts call for stronger penalties to deter counterfeit drug trade in Nigeria.
- Fake medicines make up 15-17% of drugs in circulation, risking public health.
Despite ongoing efforts to tackle counterfeit drugs, unregistered pharmaceuticals, and illicit drug activities, the illegal drug trade continues to thrive in Nigeria, posing serious risks to public health.
EKO HOT BLOG recalls that Data obtained from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) revealed that in 2022 and 2023, the agency took decisive action by sealing hundreds of illegal drug outlets, arresting offenders, and destroying substandard products worth over N21 billion.
Specifically, NAFDAC closed 1,125 drug stores selling unregistered products, shut down 62 factories involved in illicit drug production, and sealed 108 warehouses storing unapproved goods. Additionally, 412 individuals were arrested and are now facing prosecution.
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The street value of the destroyed counterfeit products amounted to a staggering N21.159 billion. However, the economic impact is just one side of the problem. Counterfeit and substandard drugs pose devastating health risks, including complications, treatment failures, and even death, further straining Nigeria’s already overwhelmed healthcare system.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that one in ten medical products in low- and middle-income countries is substandard or falsified, with Nigeria being no exception.
NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate (IED), established in 2001, has been at the forefront of the battle against Substandard and Falsified (SF) drugs and other illicitly regulated products. However, the agency is hindered by inadequate legal frameworks.
The current punishment for selling fake drugs includes a fine of up to N500,000 and a maximum prison sentence of 15 years—penalties experts argue are insufficient given the gravity of the crime.
Mrs. Christy Obiazikwor, NAFDAC’s Public Relations Officer in Lagos, expressed frustration with the weak laws, stating, “The current laws do not serve as a deterrent. Offenders can simply pay a small fine and walk free, undermining our efforts.” She further noted that some cases have been pending in court for over a decade. “There are cases we’ve been prosecuting since 2010 that are still unresolved,” Obiazikwor lamented.
In response, NAFDAC is advocating for legal reforms, with proposed amendments before the National Assembly aiming to introduce harsher penalties for counterfeit drug dealers.
Kilani Jelili, the National Treasurer of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), condemned the activities of counterfeit drug dealers, likening them to “hired killers.”
He emphasized that “No trained pharmacist would ever engage in drug counterfeiting.” He added that counterfeiters are typically untrained individuals who exploit basic pharmaceutical knowledge gained from working in factories to produce illegal drugs.
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Legal expert Suleiman Hassan Gimba, managing partner at Magna Legalese Limited, described Nigeria’s efforts to combat counterfeit drugs as a mixed outcome. While NAFDAC’s regulatory actions have led to significant seizures, counterfeit medicines remain widespread, constituting an estimated 15-17% of the drugs in circulation, according to WHO (2023).
Gimba highlighted three key challenges: porous borders that allow easy smuggling of counterfeit drugs, corruption within regulatory agencies, and weak coordination among enforcement bodies. He further noted that Nigeria’s penalties are insufficient compared to other countries like China and India, where large-scale drug counterfeiting can lead to life imprisonment or even capital punishment.
He recommended stiffer penalties, including higher fines beyond N500,000, asset forfeiture for convicted counterfeiters, and longer prison sentences to better deter this illegal trade.
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