NAFDAC Raises Alarm Over High Rate of Substandard Drugs in Nigeria

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has voiced serious concerns about the widespread circulation of fake, substandard, and falsified drugs across Nigeria. She highlighted the urgent need to combat this issue through increased awareness and stricter regulations.

Speaking during a one-day sensitization campaign in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, Professor Adeyeye, represented by the Zonal Director of the agency, Roselyn Ajayi, emphasized the critical situation. “Our survey has shown that the level of prevalence of substandard and falsified products is high across the nation,” Ajayi stated. She explained that the alarming findings from NAFDAC’s survey prompted the agency to ramp up its efforts to educate the public on the dangers of purchasing and using counterfeit drugs.

To tackle this problem, NAFDAC is planning to intensify its advocacy efforts by engaging with various community leaders and religious institutions. “We will be paying advocacy visits to churches, mosques, traditional rulers, and opinion leaders to educate them on how to avoid patronising people who sell unwholesome and fake products,” Ajayi added.

She explained that the rise in substandard and falsified drugs is due in part to the counterfeiters becoming more sophisticated, using advancements in technology to produce and distribute fake products more efficiently. “From the experiences and survey report, it was observed that fakers and counterfeiters are getting smarter and faster, taking advantage of the possibilities and opportunities of advancement in technology. Hence, the sensitisation and campaign programme,” Ajayi noted.

The campaign aims to engage healthcare providers and community members to help reduce the prevalence of substandard and falsified medicines. NAFDAC hopes that by increasing public awareness and providing clear information on how to identify fake drugs, the demand for such dangerous products will decrease, ultimately discouraging counterfeiters.

The Chairman of the Oyo State Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Adebayo Gbadamosi, also spoke at the event, urging Nigerians to buy their medications only from registered pharmacists to ensure they are getting genuine products. “Some of these drugs also have scratches. You can scratch to know the authenticity of the drugs. If our people are informed and they stop buying fake drugs, it will discourage the quacks,” Gbadamosi advised.

He further emphasized the importance of community cooperation in the fight against fake drugs, stating that public awareness and vigilance are key to curbing this dangerous trend. “It is essential for citizens to be cautious and to avoid quacks who are only interested in profit, regardless of the harm they cause,” he added.

The issue of substandard and falsified drugs is a significant public health concern in Nigeria, as these products pose severe risks to consumers. Such drugs often contain harmful substances, incorrect dosages, or no active ingredients at all, leading to treatment failures, drug resistance, and even death.

NAFDAC’s renewed effort to combat the menace of fake drugs through public engagement and cooperation with local leaders and health professionals is a step in the right direction. The agency calls on all Nigerians to join the fight by being vigilant and refusing to purchase or use any medication that is not from a credible and verified source.