The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a revised National Action Plan on Substandard and Falsified (SF) Medical Products, aimed at fortifying the integrity of Nigeria’s medical supply chain and protecting public health.
The updated framework emphasises proactive measures including public education, stronger regulation, inter-agency collaboration, and early warning mechanisms to swiftly detect and monitor substandard or falsified medicines.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described substandard and falsified medical products as “a grave threat to the healthcare system,” noting that they undermine public trust, endanger lives, and compromise the effectiveness of legitimate interventions.
“This action plan reaffirms Nigeria’s dedication to protecting its citizens from unsafe medical products and ensuring that every medicine used in the country meets the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficacy,” she said.
Adeyeye explained that the revised action plan is anchored on three core pillars — Prevention, Detection, and Response (PDR) — to ensure a resilient and accountable healthcare system. She emphasised the importance of enforcement, rapid intervention, and accountability to remove unsafe products promptly.
“The successful implementation of this action plan depends on the active participation of a wide range of stakeholders such as government ministries, regulatory authorities, law enforcement agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and healthcare providers, each playing a vital role in ensuring a coordinated national response,” she noted.
The NAFDAC chief highlighted the significance of collaboration with international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), Interpol, and regional regulatory networks to share intelligence and leverage global expertise.
At the same event, NAFDAC also launched three complementary initiatives — the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health + Nutrition (MNCH+N) Initiative, the NAFDAC Office of Women and Children’s Health (NOWCH), and programmes targeting the reduction of maternal and child mortality and malnutrition.
Adeyeye described the initiatives as “interconnected pillars” designed to safeguard Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, while ensuring all medical and nutritional products in circulation meet quality and safety standards.
She noted that NOWCH will promote safe motherhood, rational medicine use, exclusive breastfeeding, and the elimination of harmful practices such as drug misuse and unsafe cosmetics. The office will also support local production of paediatric medicines and menstrual hygiene products through partnerships with government, NGOs, and private sector actors.
The MNCH+N Initiative aims to address root causes of malnutrition and maternal and child deaths by ensuring life-saving nutrition commodities meet regulatory standards and that breastfeeding-friendly policies are enforced.
In his remarks, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing maternal and child mortality nationwide, noting a 17 per cent decline in maternal deaths and a 10 per cent reduction in newborn deaths over the past two years.
“Although the progress is not enough given our population size, it is a remarkable improvement in efforts to reduce maternal mortality. The launch of this National Action Plan is therefore critical to safeguarding the integrity of our healthcare system,” Pate said. He warned that substandard medicines fuel antimicrobial resistance, erode public trust, and cost lives, calling for stronger surveillance and coordinated enforcement.
Also speaking, Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on NAFDAC, Hon. Regina Akume, described the launch of the initiatives as “a major milestone” in strengthening maternal and child health and nutrition across the country.
