(DDM) – Nigeria’s poultry industry is facing a growing threat from counterfeit and substandard veterinary medicines, a problem that experts warn could damage farm productivity, weaken food safety standards, and limit the country’s ability to compete in regional agricultural markets.
Industry stakeholders say the circulation of fake veterinary medicinal products is undermining disease control on poultry farms and could hinder Nigeria’s participation in cross-border agricultural trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The warning comes at a time when the poultry sector is already struggling with rising feed costs, unstable policies, and disease outbreaks that continue to strain farmers across the country.
The hidden danger inside poultry medicines
Veterinary medicines play a critical role in protecting poultry birds from infectious diseases that can spread rapidly within farms.
These medicines are used to treat bacterial infections, prevent disease outbreaks, and maintain healthy flocks that produce eggs and meat for human consumption.
However, when such medicines are counterfeit, poorly formulated, or lack the necessary active ingredients, they fail to treat infections effectively.
This allows diseases to persist and spread among birds despite farmers’ efforts to control outbreaks.
Industry experts say diseases such as Newcastle disease and salmonellosis are among the infections that can remain uncontrolled when ineffective drugs are used.
These illnesses can cause widespread bird mortality, reduced egg production, and slower growth among surviving birds.
Why fake drugs create bigger problems for farmers
Prince Oyewumi Oyetunde, a stakeholder in the livestock sector, explained that treatment failure is one of the most immediate consequences of counterfeit veterinary medicines.
When drugs do not work as intended, farmers often spend additional money purchasing new medication to treat the same disease.
This creates financial losses while the infection continues to spread among birds.
In many cases, the resulting disease outbreaks disrupt normal farm operations, affecting feeding schedules, vaccination programs, and flock management.
The economic impact can be devastating for farmers whose investments depend heavily on maintaining healthy poultry populations.
How fake medicines can affect food safety
Beyond the direct impact on farms, experts say counterfeit veterinary medicines may also create risks for consumers.
When diseases are not properly treated or when inappropriate medications are used, poultry meat and eggs may contain drug residues or fail to meet safety standards.
Such problems can damage consumer confidence and reduce demand for poultry products.
This issue becomes particularly important in international trade, where strict food safety regulations determine whether agricultural products can enter foreign markets.
Countries participating in the African Continental Free Trade Area must meet sanitary and phytosanitary standards that ensure food safety and quality.
Products associated with questionable pharmaceutical practices may therefore face rejection in regional markets.
Why farmers struggle to identify fake drugs
Another challenge facing farmers is the difficulty of distinguishing between genuine and counterfeit veterinary medicines.
According to Iyiola Mojeed, chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), the packaging of fake drugs often closely resembles that of legitimate products.
In many cases, farmers only discover that the drugs are ineffective after the birds fail to recover from illness.
Mojeed noted that the poultry business is extremely sensitive, and even small mistakes in disease management can lead to the collapse of an entire farm.
Farmers who unknowingly purchase fake medicines may therefore suffer double losses.
The first loss occurs when birds continue to die from disease.
The second loss occurs when the money spent on ineffective medication is wasted.
The wider threat to Nigeria’s poultry industry
Industry leaders warn that the widespread circulation of unauthorized veterinary medicines is affecting the entire poultry value chain.
Sunday Ezeobiora, National President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, said the poultry sector represents billions of naira in investment and plays a major role in Nigeria’s food security.
However, he warned that persistent treatment failures caused by counterfeit medicines are contributing to declining productivity, increased mortality, and the collapse of poultry businesses.
The situation also raises concerns about antimicrobial resistance, a condition in which disease-causing organisms become resistant to drugs due to repeated exposure to weak or inappropriate treatments.
Over time, this makes infections harder to treat and forces farmers to rely on more expensive medications.
Calls for stronger regulation and enforcement
To address the growing challenge, stakeholders are urging the government to strengthen oversight of veterinary pharmaceutical imports and distribution.
They have called for strict enforcement of the Animal Diseases (Control) Act 2022, which prohibits the importation of veterinary medicines without proper authorization.
Industry leaders are also advocating the creation of a National Veterinary Formulary to regulate the safety, quality, and effectiveness of veterinary medicines used in Nigeria.
Such a framework would ensure that both imported and locally produced veterinary drugs meet approved standards before reaching farmers.
Experts say stronger collaboration between government agencies, veterinarians, and poultry farmers will also be necessary to eliminate pharmaceutical quackery and improve monitoring of veterinary practices.
They warn that decisive action will be essential to protect farmers’ investments, safeguard public health, and strengthen Nigeria’s poultry industry in an increasingly competitive regional market.
