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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Nigeria has revealed that more than 50 percent of certificates of pharmaceutical products (CPP) imported into the country are fake. The agency’s Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, expressed concern over substandard and falsified products, stating that they threaten the availability of safe and affordable medicines in Nigeria and Africa.
Most medicines imported into Nigeria originate from Southeast Asia, and NAFDAC has a pre-shipment testing scheme to ensure quality. However, the scheme has identified over 140 approved products but subsequently found fake ones. Adeyeye highlighted that a significant part of the issue lies with individuals who travel to countries like China and India to purchase pharmaceutical products for importation.
NAFDAC is taking strict measures to tackle the problem, including blacklisting and sanctioning companies involved in the importation of fake products. The agency is committed to upholding the safety and quality of medicines and will not hesitate to shut down any company suspected of compromising these standards.
The stakeholders’ engagement meeting held in Abuja aimed to address the issue of counterfeit pharmaceutical products and ensure that only safe and effective medicines are in circulation. Adeyeye emphasized that trade in pharmaceutical products should be mutually beneficial, and any actions that harm the health and safety of Nigerian citizens will be stopped.
