50% of Drugs Nigerians Buy Are Fake – Pharmacists Warn

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has warned that counterfeit and substandard medicines have flooded Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market, with more than half of all drugs in circulation now confirmed to be fake.

This was disclosed by the National Chairman of ACPN, Pharm. Ezeh Igwekamma, in a statement ahead of the association’s 44th Annual International Conference scheduled to hold from July 22 to 27, 2025, in Awka, Anambra State. Igwekamma described the situation as a national public health emergency requiring urgent action from lawmakers and regulators.

“Our usually reliable and dependable research-based efforts indicate that we are back to the days of over 50 per cent of drugs in circulation being fake and substandard,” he stated. “The influx of fake drugs, foods, and especially drinks in Nigeria has become a major source of worry in contemporary times. The level of unwholesome products in the market today is alarming.”

He expressed concern that the country is returning to the pre-2000s era, when fake drug trade thrived due to weak regulation and poor enforcement. He said this resurgence has been made possible by the near-collapse of enforcement structures, including the Federal Task Force and its state-level counterparts, which he described as “moribund with negligible output.”

Igwekamma further noted that, while the Nigerian government currently estimates the prevalence of fake drugs to be between 13 and 15 per cent, the ACPN’s independent findings put the figure at well over 50 per cent. “This discrepancy highlights how much more dangerous the situation is than many realize,” he said.

He lamented that the recent wave of treatment failures, fatalities, and worsening public health outcomes are directly linked to the rise in fake drug circulation. “While the tenure of the late Prof. Dora Akunyili at NAFDAC offered temporary relief, the past five years have seen a significant resurgence in fake drug circulation,” he said.

Commending recent actions by NAFDAC and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Igwekamma pointed to the shutdown of the infamous Sabon-Gari drug market in Kano and the establishment of Nigeria’s first Coordinated Wholesale Centre as steps in the right direction. He said these centres are key to phasing out open drug markets and reforming drug distribution in line with the National Drug Distribution Guidelines of 2015.

He called on the National Assembly to urgently amend the Fake Drug and Unwholesome Processed Food Act, describing the current version as too weak to confront the billion-naira criminal network profiting from counterfeit drug sales. “We are dealing with modern-day merchants of death,” he warned.

Looking ahead to the upcoming ACPN conference, Igwekamma said the gathering will focus on “Technology Integration and Personalised Care: The Future of Community Pharmacy Practice.” He emphasised that the future of pharmacy lies in embracing technology such as artificial intelligence, telepharmacy, digital records, and patient-centred services.

“Technology integration is no longer optional. We must adopt smarter, safer, and more efficient approaches to ensure Nigerians receive the best pharmaceutical care,” he added.

The conference is expected to host over 3,000 pharmacists, health tech professionals, researchers, and policy experts from around the world. Key events include a walk against counterfeit drugs, policy panels, technical workshops, and exhibitions of emerging pharmaceutical innovations.