NAFDAC launches three key initiatives to fight fake drugs, ensure safer medicines
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Tuesday, June 17, unveiled three major initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s fight against substandard and falsified (SF) medical products.
The new measures—the NAFDAC Greenbook, the Pharmaceutical Products Traceability Regulation 2024, and the Paediatric Regulation 2024—were introduced during a two-day sensitisation workshop held in the North-West Zone.
Addressing stakeholders, NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, represented by Fraden Bitrus, Director of Post-Marketing Surveillance, described counterfeit drugs as “the worst inhumanity of man to fellow men,” emphasizing the urgent need for collective action.
NAFDAC Greenbook: A tool for consumer protection
The NAFDAC Greenbook is a digital platform that allows consumers to verify the authenticity of medical products by searching via product name, brand, or NAFDAC registration number.
“The Greenbook is an online resource that provides transparency about a product’s origin and registration status,” Bitrus explained. “If a product appears in the Greenbook, it means it has been registered by NAFDAC and is considered authentic.”
NAFDAC says the tool is designed to help consumers and health professionals avoid potentially dangerous counterfeit products.
Traceability Regulation: A new standard in drug monitoring
Professor Adeyeye described the Pharmaceutical Products Traceability Regulation 2024 as a landmark achievement, making Nigeria the first country in Africa and the second globally to implement this level of supply chain monitoring.
Under this regulation, all drugs and medical products must carry unique identifiers that enable seamless tracking from production to consumption.
“This system allows us to detect and reject fake products right at the point of entry,” she said. “It proved successful during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, helping to recall defective batches within 24 hours.”
Paediatric Regulation 2024: Protecting the most vulnerable
The third initiative, the Paediatric Regulation 2024, focuses on ensuring that medical products specifically designed for children meet strict safety and efficacy standards.
“This regulation complements existing frameworks to guarantee that children receive only high-quality, age-appropriate treatments,” Adeyeye stated.
Stakeholder backing and national synergy
Participants at the workshop included representatives from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), all of whom expressed strong support.
Speaking through a representative, PCN Registrar Dr. Ibrahim Babashiu Ahmed praised the reforms and urged implementation across all levels of the health system.
Prof. Ekanem Ekure, President of PAN, applauded NAFDAC for prioritizing children’s healthcare. “We call on all stakeholders to support this laudable effort to protect our future generation,” she said.
LASCOPA’s General Manager also pledged closer collaboration with NAFDAC, warning that enforcement efforts would intensify: “We will ensure violators are brought to justice.”
A call to action
Professor Adeyeye concluded with a call for regulatory unity and public engagement: “Together, we can ensure that Nigerians access only safe, quality, and effective medical products.”
The initiatives mark a significant step in NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to eliminate fake drugs and safeguard public health across Nigeria.
