A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Amaka Nweke Foundation, has raised the alarm concerning the worsening circulation of fake and substandard drugs within Nigeria, describing the menace as a serious threat to public health and national development.
In a statement issued by the Project Coordinator of the Foundation, Pastor Adaeze Nweke, the organization expressed deep concern over recent reports indicating that over 50 percent of drugs in circulation in the country are fake.
“This is not just a medical concern; it is a moral crisis,” Pastor Nweke stated. “The rise in fake and substandard drugs in Nigeria has claimed countless innocent lives, caused treatment failures, and undermined public trust in our healthcare system,” she stressed.
She emphasized that the situation has become increasingly dangerous, particularly for vulnerable populations in rural and economically disadvantaged communities who often lack access to proper medical guidance or quality-controlled pharmacies.
As a result, the Foundation called on the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other relevant authorities to intensify surveillance, crack down on counterfeiters, and ensure stricter enforcement of existing pharmaceutical regulations.
She said: “We can no longer treat this issue lightly. Stronger penalties, aggressive public awareness campaigns, and a total overhaul of our drug distribution systems are urgently needed.” Pastor Nweke also urged the National Assembly to amend and strengthen the Fake Drug and Unwholesome Processed Foods Act, adding that existing laws have not proven sufficient in deterring those behind the criminal trade.
The Project Coordinator said that the Foundation is planning to launch a community-based sensitization campaign across Nigeria aimed at educating the public on the dangers of fake drugs, how to identify suspicious medications, and the importance of buying from licensed outlets.
“The Amaka Nweke Foundation will continue to play its part in defending the lives and health of Nigerians. We call on civil society, media, and all stakeholders to stand with us in this life-saving advocacy,” Pastor Nweke urged.
The Foundation’s statement comes on the heels of similar concerns raised by the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), further amplifying calls for urgent, decisive action to rescue Nigeria’s drug market from the grip of counterfeiters.
To check the continued circulation of fake drugs, the Foundation therefore outlined a four-point action plan to tackle the crisis which includes: mass public awareness campaigns by sensitizing communities across Nigeria on the dangers of fake drugs and how to identify them; stronger collaboration with health agencies through partnering with NAFDAC, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, and community pharmacies for grassroots-level monitoring and advocacy; as well as policy advocacy by pushing for legislation that imposes stricter penalties on individuals and cartels behind the distribution of counterfeit medications, and the support for whistleblowers and victims which will encourage citizens to report suspicious drug sources and providing assistance to families affected by the consequences of fake drugs.
