The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria(ACPN) has raised concerns over the resurgence of counterfeit drugs in Nigeria, disclosing that more than half of the medicines currently circulating in the country are fake or substandard.
The National Chairman of ACPN, Pharm. Ezeh Igwekamma made this disclosure while peaking ahead of the association’s 44th Annual International Conference scheduled to hold from July 22 to 27, 2025, in Awka, Anambra State
Igwekamma described the development as a national public health emergency that demands swift legislative and regulatory intervention.
ACPN chairman revealed the major sources of fake drugs in Nigeria to include:
– Idumota (Lagos)
– Onitsha main market
– Aba drug markets
– Kano open markets
– Mushin, Agege, Orile (Lagos)
– Agbeni (Ibadan)
– Ogbete (Enugu)
– Gamboru (Maiduguri)
While stating that these are the open drug markets, ACPN says many of these fake drugs are imported through Nigeria’s porous borders from India and China, then distributed through open markets and street vendors.
Recall that NAFDAC recently sealed over 3,000 illegal shops in Lagos alone.
