Category: Featured

• How weak laws, porous borders and desperate profiteers endanger lives selling fake medicines

Fake medicines have become a deadly symbol of Nigeria’s regulatory failure. Weak enforcement of drug distribution laws has allowed profit-hungry traders, untrained professionals, to control the medicine market, putting millions of lives at risk. From Lagos to Kano, fake and substandard medicines move freely through porous borders and poorly regulated supply chains, causing organ failures, resistance and avoidable deaths. Despite the efforts of regulators, poor political will and weak laws continue to enhance the trade. In this report, CHINYERE OKOROAFOR examines how fake drugs enter Nigeria, who profits, and why decisive government action remains absent.

When this reporter first reached Mr. Sunday Afolabi by phone, his delayed response hinted at a man worn down by retelling a painful story. When he spoke, his voice was calm but heavy with grief.

He said the events began on an ordinary April morning in Ibadan. As usual, he left home early to buy medication for his wife, Kemi, who had lived with hypertension for years.

The condition was stable, controlled with regular drugs she never missed. Kemi, 52, was meticulous about following her doctor’s instructions.

For years, the monthly medication cost about ₦8,000, an expense the family planned around. But in March, drug prices surged. The same medicine rose to nearly ₦15,000, far beyond what they could afford.

A neighbour directed Sunday to a chemist in the Challenge area of Ibadan, where the drugs were cheaper and appeared identical to what his wife had always used. The packaging raised no suspicion. He bought them.

For two weeks, Kemi took the tablets. She noticed a slight difference in taste but dismissed it as a change by the manufacturer.

On a Sunday morning, while preparing for church, she complained of chest heaviness and a racing heart. Sunday rushed her to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

Despite medical intervention, her condition deteriorated rapidly.

Doctors later confirmed that the drugs were counterfeit. They contained harmful substances that worsened her hypertension. By evening, Kemi was dead.

Since then, Sunday has changed how he purchases medicines, using only licensed pharmacies, keeping receipts, and verifying batch numbers. But the precautions came too late.

Kemi’s death reflects a wider crisis. Fake and substandard medicines remain widespread in Nigeria, cutting across antibiotics, antimalarials, hypertension and diabetes drugs, and even maternal health medicines. Some circulate through outlets that appear legitimate.

Public figures have also raised the alarm. Social media personality Leo Da Silva recently shared how he discovered drugs he bought, Gestid and cod liver oil, were fake after scanning their barcodes.

Nigeria’s history with counterfeit medicines is grim. In 2009, 84 children died after consuming contaminated teething syrup.

Today, banned and controlled drugs, including Analgin and high-dose Tramadol, are still common in open drug markets.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has estimated that in some markets, fake drugs may account for up to 80 per cent of products.

The World Health Organisation estimates that one in ten medical products in low- and middle-income countries is substandard or falsified, with higher rates reported in parts of Africa. These drugs may contain wrong or toxic ingredients, leading to treatment failure, drug resistance, worsening illness, or death.

For families like the Afolabis, the consequences are irreversible, personal tragedies rooted in a systemic failure that continues to put lives at risk.

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What constitutes fake drug

For the World Health Organisation (WHO), a falsified medicine is a product that is deliberately and fraudulently misrepresented in its identity, composition, or source, while a substandard medicine is a genuine product that fails to meet required quality standards due to manufacturing defects or improper storage.

But a Nigerian pharmaceutical expert based in the Georgia area of the United States of America, Mr. Chris Ike, offered a clear explanation of what qualifies as a fake drug, describing it as any medication whose active molecules are substandard or ineffective for human use.

Using an example, he noted that a product labelled Augmentin 228 contains Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid but the trade name is Augementin 228, those are the drug molecules. According to him, once the active ingredients are either replaced, diluted or completely absent, the medicine becomes incapable of treating any condition.

“When the molecules inside a drug are substandard beyond human consumption, it will not work,” he said. “For a layman’s understanding, the molecule becomes nothing more than chalk.”

In the bustling Onitsha Medicine Market, one of West Africa’s biggest open drug hubs, thousands of cartons change hands daily, supplying chemists, hospitals, patent medicine stores and street vendors across Nigeria. A visit to the market reveals that there are several medicine lines including Tablet Line, Anyawu Line, Udoka Line among others, where different medicines are sold in wholesale and retail capacities. But behind the chaotic commerce lies a pharmaceutical pipeline riddled with manipulation, shortcuts and dangerous practices that undermine public health.

At the Tablet Line, This reporter asked an apprentice, a young boy in his early twenties for a hypertension drug. He said they had it, along with several alternatives from different manufacturers. When I insisted on the specific brand, he went to a “second shop” to fetch it.

When he returned, I began reading the labels while he watched closely. The drug was priced at N2,500. When asked if he was a trained pharmacist, he admitted he was not, explaining that he had only been apprenticing for six months. His role, he said, was simply to learn the drug names and sell them.

A licensed pharmacist who works closely within the system, and who spoke on condition of anonymity, gave this reporter an extensive insight into how substandard medicines are manufactured; how expired products are recycled into circulation, and why regulatory gaps continue to expose Nigerians to avoidable harm.

His account, corroborated by industry patterns, reveals a complex ecosystem where businessmen, not trained pharmacists, control the majority of drug movement and where profit motives consistently override safety.

According to the pharmacist, the most counterfeited drugs in Nigeria are those in high demand and fast turnover. These include antibiotics, antimalarials, analgesics, anti-diabetic drugs, children’s medicines, and even infant milk.

“As long as a drug is selling very well, someone will produce a fake version,” he said.

“In fact, some fake drugs are more expensive than the original. They work on psychology; people assume the higher the price, the better the product.”

How substandard drugs are manufactured for profit

The pharmacist explained that many substandard drugs originate from factories in Asia where Nigerian businessmen negotiate cheaper formulations.

“Our people go to China or India, and they don’t put the complete active ingredients,” he said. “For example, if a Panadol tablet is supposed to contain 95% of a particular active ingredient, they reduce it to 70% to maximise profit.”

He added that this dilution is often the reason some common drugs appear “weak” or ineffective.

“If I want a headache medicine, I go for GSK Panadol because I know they follow standards. But many products in the market do not contain what the label claims.”

This deliberate manipulation of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) creates a vast supply of medicines that fail to treat illnesses, contributing to antibiotic resistance, prolonged sickness and, in some cases, death.

The pharmacist also shed light on one of the industry’s most alarming practices: the repackaging of expired drugs for resale.

Every drug has a “shelf life;” the period during which its active ingredients remain potent. Once past this window, medicines gradually lose effectiveness and, in some cases, become toxic.

He explained that a drug expiring in October may retain some potency in November or December, but once it passes five or six months beyond its expiry date, it becomes dangerous.

“Expired drugs can still be used, depending on how long they have expired and the company that produced them,” he said.

“For instance, I can take a Pfizer drug that expired by two months. But many businesspeople don’t apply scientific knowledge. They simply clean the date, backdate it and push it into the market.”

In the Onitsha market, chemicals are often used to erase expiry dates from packaging, after which printers replace them with new, falsified dates. This practice is particularly common among businessmen importing medicines without NAFDAC registration numbers, who seek to avoid inspection hurdles.

The pharmacist described a methodical, almost industrial approach to producing and selling fake drugs, as business model built on observation, imitation, and exploitation.

It begins with a legitimate, fast-selling drug. A businessman imports it, watches as demand grows, and notes how quickly shelves empty. Not long after, competitors move in. They replicate the popular medication, but with a crucial difference: the active ingredients are reduced, substituted, or omitted entirely. The result is a substandard product, far cheaper to produce, yet packaged to appear identical to the original.

“These replicas are mixed into the market alongside genuine stock,” the pharmacist explained. “What they are selling is fake. But in this market, presentation matters more than quality. Most buyers cannot tell the difference.”

The system thrives on anonymity. Many manufacturers of substandard medicines omit real addresses, omit valid logos, and sometimes falsify batch numbers. Some go a step further, adding elaborate security seals that mimic the codes used by authentic pharmaceutical companies. To the unsuspecting consumer, the products look real, reassuring, and legitimate. But the illusion is deadly.

“The deception is sophisticated; it’s not just about making money, it’s about creating trust where none exists; then exploiting it,” he stated.

How to spot fake drugs: labels, codes, hidden clues

According to the pharmacist, identifying fake drugs often starts with careful observation and attention to detail.

“Most people overlook the labels, but a trained eye can spot inconsistencies immediately,” he explained. “Spelling mistakes, poorly printed logos, or misaligned text are all red flags.”

Beyond visual cues, many legitimate pharmaceutical companies embed authentication codes on their products. These codes, when verified through the company’s system, often via SMS, apps, or websites, confirm the drug’s authenticity.

“If the code is genuine, you get feedback. If it’s fake, there’s no response,” he said.

But counterfeiters are adapting. Increasingly, fake drugs come with codes that mimic authentic verification systems. Some even replicate cartons, blister packs, and holograms with alarming precision, making visual inspection alone insufficient.

“The deception is becoming highly sophisticated,” he warned. “Even experienced buyers can be fooled if they rely only on what the packaging looks like. Verification is the only reliable way to confirm authenticity.”

He recounted a common tactic involving controlled substances. “Some businessmen buy Tramadol of 50mg, change the packaging to 100mg, and sell it as 100mg,” he said. “That means a patient expecting 100mg is only getting half of what the label claims.”

Such practices, he emphasised, are not mere technicalities. Patients relying on precise dosages – whether managing chronic pain, recovering from surgery, or undergoing treatment for substance withdrawal, are left vulnerable. The medicine they trust may be ineffective, prolonging suffering or worsening conditions.

More alarming, however, is the manipulation of immunosuppressant drugs, essential for organ transplant patients. The pharmacist cited Mycophenolate as a stark example. Before a regulatory raid by NAFDAC, the drug sold for N14,000. After the seizure of unregistered versions in September, the price surged to N40,000.

“The drugs seized were not necessarily fake,” he explained. “They did not have NAFDAC numbers. The businessmen importing them wanted to avoid high registration fees. But when NAFDAC raids, everything without proper registration is labeled fake and seized.”

The stakes in such cases are life and death. Expired or improperly manufactured immunosuppressants can trigger organ failure in transplant patients. “If a patient takes an expired drug of this kind, the organ can shut down,” the pharmacist said.

These manipulations reveal a dark undercurrent in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain: profit-driven practices not only erode trust in medicines but directly threaten the lives of the most vulnerable patients.

According to the pharmacist, only a small fraction of the sellers are licensed professionals.

“Most of the people selling drugs there are businessmen,” he explained. “They don’t understand the dangers of what they are doing. They are not trained. All they care about is: ‘Come and buy.’”

This lack of professional oversight allows harmful practices, from selling substandard or expired medicines to manipulating dosages, to continue unchecked. For many consumers, there is no reliable way to know whether the product in their hands is genuine or dangerous.

The government has proposed a restructuring plan for the market aimed at putting licensed pharmacists in supervisory roles over the businessmen. Under this system, a single pharmacist could be assigned to monitor multiple shops, inspecting stock and verifying quality on a weekly or monthly basis.

“A pharmacist might be responsible for five shops,” he said. “It’s not perfect, but it would introduce some measure of control.”

Even so, challenges remain. With thousands of transactions occurring daily, enforcement depends on discipline, diligence, and the willingness of both the authorities and the licensed pharmacists to confront entrenched practices. Until then, much of the market remains a grey zone, a place where profit, not patient safety, drives the trade.

How NAFDAC registration raises drug prices

The high cost of medicines in Nigeria is often blamed on NAFDAC, the regulatory body responsible for drug approval and oversight. But the pharmacist offered a more nuanced explanation, revealing a complex interplay between regulation, supply chains, and market practices.

He explained that drugs registered with NAFDAC are typically more expensive, because manufacturers must absorb high registration fees, which are then passed on to consumers. In contrast, unregistered drugs bypass these costs, allowing sellers to price them lower and restock more quickly.

“When NAFDAC discovers unregistered drugs, they raid and seize them,” he said. “But some of these drugs are not fake; they just don’t have NAFDAC numbers.”

Such enforcement actions, while intended to protect public health, often have unintended consequences. When unregistered stock is confiscated, the supply of certain medicines shrinks drastically, creating scarcity and driving prices up.

He cited the example of Mycophenolate, a critical immunosuppressant for transplant patients. Before a NAFDAC raid, the drug sold for N14,000. After unregistered stock was seized in September, the price skyrocketed to N40,000.

“Patients who rely on these medicines suffer,” he added. “The raids are necessary, but the system penalizes consumers as much as sellers.”

In effect, NAFDAC registration, while essential for ensuring drug safety, indirectly contributes to higher drug prices, particularly when enforcement measures disrupt the market without parallel strategies to maintain availability.

Kano’s medicine business hub

At dawn in Sabon Gari Market, Kano, pharmaceutical trading was already in full swing. Vans and pick-up trucks offloaded cartons of medicines commonly found in clinics and chemist shops across northern Nigeria, as traders opened shops and prepared for the day’s business.

Sabon Gari serves as a major pharmaceutical distribution hub for the North. Drugs purchased in the market are redistributed to states such as Bauchi and Borno, and in some cases, across borders into Niger Republic and other West African countries. Retailers arrive daily to restock patent medicine stores or buy in bulk for onward sales.

Traders explained that the market deals in prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs and so-called “order drugs” products designed to imitate genuine medicines. These “order drugs,” some traders admitted, are often fake or substandard and remain a major concern.

While the market has long been associated with counterfeit drugs, some traders insist they deal only in locally manufactured and registered products. Others described the business as profitable but cautious, shaped by economic pressures and regulatory scrutiny.

According to the Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPMED), Kano State, Alhaji Musbahu Khalid, pharmaceutical trading in the state extends beyond Sabon Gari to other markets across the city.

He said past crackdowns on drug abuse disrupted the market, but confidence is gradually returning through collaboration between traders, regulators and security agencies.

Khalid estimated that hundreds of millions of naira worth of drugs are traded daily in Kano’s pharmaceutical markets.

He said NAPMED runs a local taskforce that conducts inspections and sanctions offenders, while plans are underway for a government-backed wholesale pharmaceutical centre to improve regulation.

Despite ongoing reforms, trading in Sabon Gari continues at scale, underscoring Kano’s central role in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain, and the persistent challenges of regulation and drug safety.

Idumota, Lagos drug market

Checks at a pharmacy in the Idumota drug market, Lagos Island, revealed conditions more fitting for a poorly run tuck shop than a medicine outlet. At the entrance, meat and bread sellers, alongside local herb vendors, displayed their wares and called out to passersby.

Inside, sales boys stacked drugs carelessly, as if they were cartons of biscuits. Traders urged them to work faster as more trailers loaded with medicines arrived that Monday morning. A quick count showed about 30 wholesale drug stores operating in similar deplorable conditions, confirming the area as one of Lagos’ open drug markets.

Idumota is widely known as a hub for substandard, counterfeit and expired medicines. Sensitive drugs, including antibiotics, analgesics, insulin and other injectable meant to save lives, were displayed in dirty and unhygienic environments.

Yet, many chemists, retail pharmacies and hospitals across Oyo, Osun, Ogun and other South-West states source their drugs from this market.

When asked about gentamicin injectable, a trader, Jude, said he had several cartons and asked how many were needed. The conversation was cut short when a warning spread that officials from the Lagos State Government and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria were approaching. Traders hurriedly hid cartons of unapproved drugs, shut their shops and dispersed.

Two weeks later, the man freely sold tramadol, insulin and other prescription-only drugs without requesting any prescription.

His concern was payment, not the identity or safety of the buyer.

How fake drugs enter Nigeria

Checks show that fake and expired medicines enter Nigeria through both land and sea routes, taking advantage of weak border controls and desperate smuggling networks.

A retired comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that while many illegal drugs are smuggled through Nigeria’s porous land borders, a large volume also comes in through the seaports. According to him, containers loaded with substandard and expired medicines are routinely shipped into the country, often disguised among other goods.

He recalled his experience at the Tin Can Island Port in Apapa, Lagos, where he personally examined a 40-foot container found to be filled with expired drugs. Despite appeals from those linked to the shipment, the container was seized. He said similar seizures were made by his colleagues at the Onne Seaport in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. One such case involved an even larger container of expired medicines intercepted around the time the biggest vessel ever to dock in Nigeria arrived at Onne.

The former customs officer explained that officers often have prior intelligence on shipments from known source countries associated with counterfeit drugs. “From the country a container is coming from, we already know if it is a source country, and that tells us we must carry out serious physical examination,” he said.

Beyond the ports, he described smugglers as extremely determined individuals who exploit countless illegal routes along Nigeria’s land borders. During his postings to border areas, he encountered smugglers using unapproved paths to evade security checks. In some cases, they adopted strange tactics and disguises to avoid detection, including carrying voodoo.

These accounts highlight the complex and determined networks behind the inflow of fake drugs into Nigeria, and the constant struggle of enforcement officers to stop them.

China, India’s fake drugs flooding Nigeria – ECOWAS report

An ECOWAS-backed 2023 report has warned that fake and illegal medicines from China and India are flooding Nigeria and other West African countries, putting millions of lives at risk.

The report, titled Bad Pharma: Trafficking Illicit Medical Products in West Africa, said these drugs are common in Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Guinea and Burkina Faso. Many of the fake medicines are shipped from Guangzhou in China and enter the region through major ports such as Apapa in Nigeria, Tema in Ghana, Cotonou in Benin and Conakry in Guinea. Middlemen are often used to hide the real source.

According to the study, West Africa has become a major hub for fake medicines. In Burkina Faso and Guinea, illegal drugs make up as much as 80 per cent of medicines in circulation. Across the region, fake and smuggled drugs account for between 20 and 60 per cent of the formal market.

The report said Nigeria and Ghana are the biggest producers of both legal and illegal medicines in the region. Out of 172 pharmaceutical manufacturers in ECOWAS countries, 120 are in Nigeria and 37 in Ghana. These operate alongside illegal laboratories, some of which have recently been shut down in Niger and Guinea.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that fake medicines kill nearly 500,000 people every year in sub-Saharan Africa. Many deaths are linked to fake malaria drugs and antibiotics used for children.

The report noted that weak regulation, porous borders, poverty and poor access to affordable healthcare have helped the illegal drug trade to grow.

It called on ECOWAS, governments and civil society groups to strengthen border control, improve drug regulation, raise public awareness and make genuine medicines more affordable and accessible.

The Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said China, India and Pakistan are the main sources of illegal drugs coming into Nigeria.

He said many of the opioids seized in Nigeria can be traced to these countries. To stop this, the NDLEA recently signed an agreement with India’s Narcotics Control Bureau to share real-time information and block drug trafficking.

Babafemi added that the agency is also working to revive old agreements with China and Pakistan, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said these partnerships will help Nigeria work closely with other countries to stop the smuggling of illegal drugs, especially opioids.

He added that the NDLEA is also working with local and international partners to reduce drug trafficking into Nigeria.

How colonial-era licence allowed untrained sellers to handle medicines

A concerned Nigerian, who identified himself as Nwako, traced the problems in Nigeria’s drug distribution system to the colonial era, saying the foundation of today’s crisis was laid long ago.

He explained that the Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor Licence (PPMVL) was introduced during colonial rule to allow non-professionals sell basic medicines. Over time, this temporary system remained in place and became widely abused, even though healthcare needs and drug use have become more complex.

According to Nwako, the licence now allows people who are not trained pharmacists to sell over-the-counter medicines, a practice that goes against global best standards.

He said this has weakened the pharmacy profession and reduced medicines to ordinary trade items rather than powerful substances that require expert handling.

He noted that because of this colonial-era system, unqualified individuals, including school dropouts and illiterates, now handle and sell drugs across the country.

He warned that this poses a serious danger to public health, as it increases the risk of wrong prescriptions, drug misuse and abuse.

Nwako explained that in many parts of the world, only trained pharmacists are allowed to handle medicines. These professionals undergo strict education and training, including earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and completing specialised postgraduate studies.

He stressed that Nigeria urgently needs to reform its drug distribution system, move away from outdated colonial structures and ensure that only trained professionals handle medicines to reduce fake drugs, drug abuse and preventable deaths.

Nigeria’s vulnerability

Nigeria is highly exposed to fake and substandard drugs due to heavy dependence on imports, weak regulation, and porous markets. About 70% of medicines are imported, mainly from China and India, creating complex supply chains that are hard to monitor.

NAFDAC, the country’s main drug regulator, remains understaffed and under-resourced, struggling to police borders and informal markets. A 2022 NAFDAC report estimated that nearly 30% of medicines in open markets are fake or substandard, often sold through street vendors, roadside stalls, and unlicensed pharmacies.

Past incidents, such as rumours of expired or substandard COVID-19 vaccines in 2020, highlight the risks of this vulnerability.

What NAFDAC is doing to fight fake drugs beyond raiding

NAFDAC has intensified efforts to curb fake and substandard medicines in Nigeria, extending its approach beyond market raids to include regulation, technology, public awareness, partnerships, and surveillance.

The agency has introduced several tools to track medicines throughout the supply chain. Its Traceability Project uses legal and technological methods to monitor products from importation to retail, helping to detect counterfeit drugs before they reach consumers. NAFDAC’s GreenBook, an online database, allows the public to verify the authenticity of medicines by checking their names and registration numbers.

Another key initiative, the Pediatric Regulation 2024, ensures that medicines for children meet safety and quality standards.

Public education is also a major focus. NAFDAC regularly runs campaigns on television, radio, and in communities to warn Nigerians about the dangers of fake drugs and how to identify them. The agency works with schools to teach students about safe medicine use and publishes lists of counterfeit products in newspapers, urging the public to report suspicious items.

On the regulatory side, NAFDAC has strengthened drug registration and inspection processes to ensure only quality medicines enter the market. This includes pre-shipment testing of imported drugs and requiring documentation proving that active ingredients meet international standards. Local producers are also monitored for compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to prevent the production of substandard medicines.

NAFDAC collaborates with national agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Immigration Service to intercept fake drugs at borders and airports. International partnerships with organisations like the World Health Organization and the United States Pharmacopeia further enhance technical capacity and surveillance.

In 2025, the Federal Government launched a national task force led by NAFDAC and other agencies to identify illegal drug networks, prosecute offenders, and strengthen nationwide monitoring of counterfeit products.

Experts say these measures show that NAFDAC’s fight against fake medicines is evolving. By combining technology, public education, stronger regulation, and coordinated partnerships, the agency aims to protect Nigerians from harmful and counterfeit products and reduce the public health risks associated with unsafe drugs.

NAFDAC raid in 2025

In 2025, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) stepped up its fight against fake, substandard, and unregistered medicines, seizing and destroying massive quantities and shutting down illegal outlets.

In September, one of the biggest enforcement actions saw fake antimalarial drugs worth over ₦1.2 billion seized from a warehouse in the Ilasa‑Oshodi area of Lagos State. NAFDAC officers found 277 cartons of counterfeit Malamal Forte malaria drugs, said to have been imported in a 40‑foot container from China.

Earlier in 2025, over 3,000 drug shops in Lagos were sealed, and truckloads of fake drugs were confiscated in Abia and Anambra states. In Onitsha’s Bridge Head and other markets, NAFDAC temporarily closed markets to enforce compliance, reopening them under stricter oversight.

Major market raids in April saw fake and banned medicines worth over ₦100 billion destroyed at Idumota (Lagos), Onitsha, Ariara, and Ezeuku markets. In Awka, Anambra State, another large stock of illegal drugs, including paediatric, maternal medicines, and vaccines stored in unsafe conditions, was destroyed.

NAFDAC said these products were dangerous and unfit for use, posing serious public health risks. Experts note that these seizures represent not just financial loss but lives saved and families protected.

Awareness, consumer vigilance

NAFDAC says public awareness is key to fighting fake drugs. Nigerians are urged to check that medicines come from trusted shops and have valid NAFDAC registration numbers. Products sold far below normal prices are likely counterfeit, experts warn.

A policy analyst, Pharm. Igwe Uche says local drug production is essential to stop fake medicines. “We must invest in making our own drugs under strict standards. This is the only way to cut off counterfeiters and protect our health,” he said.

Despite government rules under the National Drug Distribution Guidelines, many open drug markets still operate. Deadlines for shutting them down and setting up State and Mega Drug Distribution Centres, for safe storage and sale, have been missed.

Nigeria’s National Drug Policy, revised in 2021, aims for self-sufficiency in drug production. But progress is slow due to power shortages, lack of raw materials, and poor financing.

Experts warn that until these problems are fixed, and regulators are properly funded and trained, the exit of major companies like GSK could become a serious public health risk.

Experts’ concerns

Health experts agree that Nigeria’s weak and poorly regulated drug distribution system is costing lives. They blame chaotic drug markets, weak border control and the slow implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG).

The Chairman of the Lagos State Medicines Association, Innocent Ezennaya, said fake drugs enter Nigeria easily through borders, airports and seaports due to poor checks and compromised officials.

He warned that without strict control at entry points, efforts to stop fake medicines will fail.

Pharmacists say street drug hawking by untrained sellers remains common, even though medicines can be harmful if wrongly handled or stored. They warned that heat, sunlight and poor storage reduce drug safety and effectiveness.

The Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Ezeh Ambrose, said current penalties for fake drug crimes are too weak and called for much higher fines and longer jail terms.

Pharmaceutical industry players said the fake drug crisis is mainly due to the government’s failure to enforce the NDDG and the National Drug Policy.

The Chairman of the Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria, Abiola Paul-Ozieh, said open drug markets must be shut down, stressing that medicines are not ordinary goods.

She added that Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported drugs and weak local production make the problem worse.

ACPN Lagos Chairman, Ajayi Tolulope, said agencies like NAFDAC lack enough funding, staff and political support. He called for regulated wholesale centres in every state to control drug distribution.

The Lagos State Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Babayemi Oyekunle, warned that fake drugs increase deaths from malaria, hypertension, asthma and other illnesses.

The anonymous pharmacist in Onitsha said reform is possible only if rules are applied consistently.

He stressed that pharmacists must be involved at every stage, from importation to retail at the Ontisha drug market.

He said stronger borders, licensed pharmacists supervising drug shops, affordable NAFDAC registration fees and public education on checking genuine drugs would help stop fake medicines.

Experts warned that without urgent reforms and strong political will, fake drugs will continue to endanger lives in Nigeria.

*This work was produced with support of a grant provided by the Wits Centre for Journalism’s African Investigative Journalism Conference.*