Pharmacist warns against silent epidemic as fake drugs flood Nigerian market

Pharmacist and healthcare expert, Lolu Ojo, has raised fresh concerns over the increasing circulation of fake and substandard medicines in Nigeria, describing it as a “silent epidemic” that continues to endanger lives despite decades of regulatory efforts.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Thursday, Ojo—Managing Director of Merit Healthcare Limited—lamented that the menace, which has persisted since before the 1990s, remains a major threat to public health.

Citing surveys by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), he said between 12 and 15 percent of medicines in circulation are fake.

“Even if it is just one in twenty, it is still dangerous.

“For the patient, it means double jeopardy—you lose your money and your health deteriorates further,” he warned.

Ojo explained that the consequences of fake drug consumption include treatment failure, disability, and death, with children suffering from malaria and other critical illnesses most at risk. He branded the production of falsified medicines as “chemical terrorism,” driven by profiteers who exploit human suffering.

He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant by buying medicines only from registered pharmacies under the supervision of licensed pharmacists.

“Shine your eyes. Ask questions and insist on seeing the pharmacist.

“It is our responsibility to resolve doubts in favour of the patient,” he said.

On the supply chain, Ojo disclosed that Nigeria still imports about 60 percent of its medicines, while most pharmaceutical raw materials are sourced abroad.

Although NAFDAC enforces strict manufacturing standards and testing before approvals, he said porous borders continue to undermine regulation, allowing criminal networks to smuggle fake drugs alongside arms and other illicit items.