The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has unveiled a three-pronged strategy aimed at strengthening drug safety and eliminating counterfeit medical products in Nigeria.
Announced during a two-day sensitisation workshop in Lagos, the initiatives are part of NAFDAC’s intensified efforts to improve regulatory oversight and protect public health across the country.
Representing NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency’s Director of Post-Marketing Surveillance, Fraden Bitrus, described the circulation of substandard and falsified drugs as “the worst inhumanity of man to fellow men.”
He said the newly introduced tools were developed to empower healthcare professionals, consumers, and regulators with advanced digital and policy resources to detect and remove fake products from the supply chain.
One of the newly launched tools is the NAFDAC Greenbook, a digital verification platform that allows consumers to confirm the authenticity of any medical product by searching its name, brand, or NAFDAC registration number.
Bitrus described the Greenbook as a transparency tool and a frontline defence mechanism against counterfeit medicines.
Also unveiled was the Pharmaceutical Products Traceability Regulation 2024, which mandates all medicines in Nigeria to carry unique identifiers for real-time tracking throughout the distribution network.
Prof. Adeyeye stated that Nigeria is the first in Africa and second globally to adopt such an advanced traceability system.
She said the system proved effective during the COVID-19 pandemic by enabling the swift recall of faulty vaccine batches within 24 hours.
The third initiative, Paediatric Regulation 2024, is a targeted policy that ensures medicines for children meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficacy.
Prof. Adeyeye described it as a necessary addition to Nigeria’s regulatory framework, urging stakeholders to fully support its implementation.
In response, major health and regulatory stakeholders expressed their commitment to the agency’s mission.
Dr. Ibrahim Babashiu Ahmed, Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), praised NAFDAC’s leadership and urged healthcare providers to apply the training to safeguard patients.
Prof. Ekanem Ekure, President of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, applauded the paediatric regulation and urged broader support for child health-focused policies.
The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) also pledged closer collaboration with NAFDAC to enforce the new policies and remove harmful drugs from the market.
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Delta Govt warns land grabbers, vows to reclaim encroached Airport land
The Delta State Government has raised alarm over illegal encroachments on state-owned land, particularly around the Asaba Airport, vowing to demolish all unauthorised structures and recover reclamation costs from offenders.
The warning was issued by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, during a press briefing held in Asaba on Wednesday.
Aniagwu blamed the encroachments on the government’s earlier inability to immediately construct a perimeter fence around the airport facility.
He warned that the safety and operational licence of the airport was at risk due to increasing threats from unauthorised activities, including cattle roaming and bush burning near the runway.
“Cattle, those who burn bushes and others may disrupt flight activities, and that will be too embarrassing to the management of the airport,” he cautioned.
The Commissioner declared that the government will enforce the law against all trespassers and pursue damages where necessary, stressing that no individual is above the law.
In a related development, Aniagwu addressed ongoing electricity challenges in Ndokwa Nation, assuring residents that the state is working to overcome regulatory bottlenecks and restore power to the region.
He confirmed that Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme has led engagements with key stakeholders to resolve liabilities and facilitate the area’s reconnection to the national grid.
“Only recently, certain forms of liberalisation have taken place, allowing states to go into power generation and distribution under specific conditions,” Aniagwu noted.
He blamed the absence of power supply for rising infrastructure vandalism and criminal activities in the area, describing the situation as urgent and unacceptable.
The Delta State Government reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on land grabbing, warning all illegal occupants to vacate public land or face legal consequences.
