By Nigeria’s battle against counterfeit drugs remains a serious challenge, with weak regulations, endless court cases, and corruption making it difficult to win the fight.
Even with constant efforts by health authorities to crack down on illegal drug operations, fake and poor-quality medicines still flood the market, endangering millions of Nigerians.
Recent data from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) shows that between 2022 and 2023, the agency sealed off 1,125 illegal drug stores and shut down 62 factories producing fake drugs.
In addition, NAFDAC closed 108 warehouses filled with unapproved medical products, arrested 412 suspects, and destroyed counterfeit drugs worth ₦21.1 billion.
Despite these aggressive measures, the problem persists. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that fake drugs still make up between 15 to 17 percent of medicines circulating in Nigeria.
Health experts warn that unless Nigeria strengthens its regulatory system and tackles corruption, fake drugs will continue to threaten public health across the country.
