Morenikeji Adebayo
Pharmacists across Nigeria have called for stricter penalties, including life imprisonment, for individuals involved in the peddling of counterfeit and illicit drugs, citing the severe health risks posed to the public.
Their demand comes in response to a surge in the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines, which the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recently cracked down on.
Within six weeks, the agency evacuated over 100 truckloads of banned and fake drugs from major markets in Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, warned that if such drugs remained in circulation, they could drastically reduce the quality of life for millions of Nigerians.
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Tanko Ayuba, described Nigeria’s current penalties for counterfeit drug trafficking as inadequate.
Under the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, offenders face a fine of N500,000 or a maximum of five years in prison, which Ayuba argued is insufficient to deter criminal networks.
He emphasized that other countries impose far harsher penalties, making Nigeria a weak ground for drug traffickers.
The Chairman of the PSN, FCT Chapter, Salamatu Orakwelu, supported the call for stricter punishment but opposed the death penalty.
Instead, she advocated for life imprisonment, arguing that it would permanently incapacitate offenders and prevent them from continuing their dangerous trade.
“Life is sacred, and if someone is incarcerated for life, it ensures they are no longer a threat to society,” Orakwelu stated.
She further explained that such a penalty would not only remove offenders from circulation but also serve as a strong deterrent to others engaged in the illegal drug trade.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Lagos State branch of the PSN, Gbolagade Iyiola, stressed the devastating impact of counterfeit drugs, particularly on patients with life-threatening conditions.
“As pharmacists, we see firsthand the damage that fake drugs cause. If a patient takes counterfeit medicine believing it to be genuine, and it leads to severe harm or death, that is equivalent to murder,” Iyiola said.
He called for penalties ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment, depending on the level of involvement and intent.
“There must be a clear differentiation in penalties. Someone knowingly trafficking counterfeit drugs should receive the highest punishment,” he stated, urging lawmakers to reform existing regulations to reflect the severity of such crimes.
With Nigeria facing a growing crisis of fake and substandard drugs, pharmacists are urging the government to take immediate action by implementing stricter legislation and harsher penalties.
Stakeholders argue that only severe consequences—such as life imprisonment—will serve as a sufficient deterrent against those endangering lives through the illicit drug trade.
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