The National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, has raised a fresh alarm over Nigeria’s deepening fake drug crisis, warning that counterfeit medicines now account for more than 50% of drugs in circulation levels last seen before the sweeping reforms of the early 2000s.
Speaking through an official press statement ahead of the Association’s 44th Annual International Conference, scheduled for July 22nd–27th, 2025 in Awka, Anambra State, Pharm. Igwekamma described the resurgence of fake and substandard medicines as “a major source of worry in contemporary times,” with new evidence pointing to a rapid return to the grim figures of the past.
“Our usually reliable and dependable research-based efforts indicate that we are back to the days of over 50% of drugs in circulation being fake and substandard, as against official figures hovering between 13% and 15%,” Igwekamma stated.
He noted that the influx of fake foods and drinks has also grown into a “tens-of-billion-naira business championed by modern-day merchants of death,” posing fresh dangers to public health and national security.
Recalling the milestones recorded under the late Prof. Dora Akunyili’s stewardship of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) between 2001 and 2009, Igwekamma lamented that recent years have seen regulatory lapses that emboldened illicit drug syndicates.
He cited historical studies by the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) dating back to 1988, which exposed that 33% of drugs in Nigeria were fake then, with 7% causing fatalities. By 1998, new surveys indicated the fake drug incidence had worsened—almost 50% of counterfeit drugs were traced to open drug markets, while patent medicine vendors accounted for nearly 33%.
According to Igwekamma, despite the entrenchment of the Fake Drug Act during the 1999 transition period, its enforcement has weakened in recent times, allowing fake and unwholesome products to flourish unchecked.
“Despite some modest efforts by NAFDAC, the influx of fake drugs and unwholesome food and drinks has surged very significantly in the last five years when the Federal Task Force and equivalent State Task Forces have almost become moribund with negligible regulatory output,” he said.
However, Igwekamma applauded one bright spot in recent enforcement: the landmark collaboration between NAFDAC and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), which led to the closure of the notorious Sabon-Geri open drug market in Kano in January 2024. The Sabon-Geri action coincided with the launch of Nigeria’s first Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC), part of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines designed to phase out unregulated open drug markets.
“The CWC are well-regulated drug centres designed to replace the Open Drug Markets (ODMs). It is in the spirit of such collaborations we desire to save consumers from the almost five million unregistered drug-selling outfits dotting both rural and urban Nigeria,” he explained.
In a bold call to lawmakers, the ACPN Chairman urged the National Assembly to urgently amend the existing Fake Drug and Unwholesome Food Act to transform it into a more potent and enforceable legal tool.
“The NASS must, as a matter of urgency, amend the existing Act to become a much more potent Act of parliament,” Igwekamma said, adding that decisive reforms could help dismantle criminal networks behind the deadly trade.
While sounding the alarm, Igwekamma also used the press briefing to unveil the focus of this year’s conference themed “Technology Integration, Personalized Care: The Future of Community Pharmacy Practice.”
According to him, the theme captures the ACPN’s resolve to reposition community pharmacists at the forefront of Nigeria’s evolving healthcare delivery system—by leveraging digital innovation, artificial intelligence, telepharmacy, electronic health records, point-of-care testing, and personalized pharmaceutical services.
“We are at a critical juncture where the traditional roles of community pharmacists must expand to meet the rising demands of a tech-savvy, wellness-conscious population,” he declared.
Set to convene in Awka, Anambra State’s bustling capital, from July 22nd to 27th, the conference will host over 3,000 delegates, including pharmacists, technologists, policymakers, academics, researchers, students, and industry stakeholders.
Highlights of the six-day gathering will include: A Walk Against Fake and Counterfeit Medicines a public demonstration to raise awareness about the deadly threat; Keynotes and Technical Sessions featuring global thought leaders in pharmacy and health technology; Workshops and Panels exploring emerging innovations, regulatory frameworks, and pharmaceutical entrepreneurship; ACPN Exhibition Expo showcasing technology companies, digital health platforms, drug manufacturers, and healthcare startups; and Cultural Night and Gala Awards to celebrate industry achievements and foster professional bonding.
Igwekamma commended the Government and people of Anambra State for their overwhelming support in hosting the conference, describing Awka as an ideal setting for inspiration, networking, and forward-thinking solutions.
In closing, Igwekamma appealed to all community pharmacists, healthcare professionals, regulators, industry leaders, and development partners to join forces in building a more resilient and people-focused pharmacy practice for Nigeria’s future.
“Together, we shall build a community pharmacy model that delivers impact through innovation and compassion,” he said.
The 44th Annual International Conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria promises to be a defining moment one that not only confronts Nigeria’s decades-old counterfeit drug scourge but also charts a bold course for a smarter, safer, and more personalized healthcare system for all Nigerians.
