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Reps Push For Life Imprisonment For Fake Drug Dealers In Nigeria

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1 month ago

Feb 7, 2025.

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The House of Representatives proposes life imprisonment for fake drug producers.
Lawmakers urge stricter penalties due to rising counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.
Regulatory agencies like NAFDAC and SON need funding for better enforcement.

The House of Representatives has proposed life imprisonment for individuals involved in the production and importation of fake drugs in Nigeria.

The resolution was passed during Thursday’s plenary following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Muktar Shagaya, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Kwara State.

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Lawmakers have called on the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to propose amendments to existing laws to impose stricter penalties on those found guilty of dealing in counterfeit drugs.

The motion comes in response to the rising circulation of fake drugs and substandard products across the country in recent years. Presenting the motion, Shagaya described the surge in counterfeit goods as “alarming,” warning that it poses a serious threat to public health, national security, and the economy.

“Nigeria suffers economic losses of approximately N15 trillion annually due to counterfeit and substandard goods as reported by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

“The unchecked proliferation of fake products not only jeopardises consumer safety but also discourages genuine investment in the food and pharmaceutical industries,” he stated.

Shagaya further noted that existing regulations have failed to deter fake drug peddlers due to weak enforcement, corruption, and the lack of stringent penalties. He added that offenders often return to the illicit trade because of “lenient fines and bailable sentences,” allowing them to operate with impunity.

The lawmaker called for a national state of emergency to intensify enforcement efforts, strengthen regulatory institutions, and impose harsher sanctions on offenders.

The motion was not debated and was unanimously adopted when put to a voice vote by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary.

Life Imprisonment Fake Drug

Following the resolution, the House urged the federal government to strengthen regulatory agencies, particularly the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Nigeria Customs Service, by providing them with adequate funding, modern equipment, and advanced technology for effective surveillance, detection, and enforcement.