The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reiterated its commitment to eliminating counterfeit and substandard medicines from Nigeria’s pharmaceutical markets.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Mrs Christiana Obiazikwor, Deputy Director of Public Relations at NAFDAC.
The statement followed a strategic engagement held in Lagos with executives of the Lagos State Medicine Dealers Association.
Mr Martins Iluyomade, Director of NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate and Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Substandard Products, emphasised the agency’s renewed drive to sanitise drug distribution channels across the country.
He stated that all medicine dealers must be registered in NAFDAC’s national database to guarantee full traceability and accountability of pharmaceutical products.
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“There is a dire need to sanitise the drug market nationwide, and the current administration is determined to do that,” said Iluyomade.
“NAFDAC is not out to punish anyone. We do not have another country, and we must do the right thing for the good of all.”
He warned that dealers who deliberately operate outside regulatory oversight would be barred from selling or distributing drugs, and shop owners who tamper with NAFDAC seals or reopen sealed premises would face strict enforcement actions.
Iluyomade reiterated that medicine regulation was non-negotiable, noting that it is listed under the Exclusive Legislative List in Nigeria due to its direct impact on public health.
“There is no serious country in the world that does not regulate the use of medicines,” he added.
To reinforce compliance, he announced a two-week ultimatum for medicine dealers in major commercial hubs—Idumota (Lagos), Onitsha, and Aba—to regularise their operations and ensure they are fully captured in NAFDAC’s official records.
Iluyomade also called on recognised trade associations and stakeholders to collaborate with the agency in eradicating fake and substandard medicines from circulation, stressing that public health must remain a national priority.