Pharmacists in Nigeria have warned members of the public against purchasing medicines from street vendors, roadside sellers and other unauthorised outlets, citing the growing threat of counterfeit and substandard drugs to public health.
The pharmacists warned that medicines obtained from unregulated sources could fail to treat illnesses, trigger dangerous reactions and cause damage to vital organs, including the liver and kidneys.
They called for stronger government regulation of medicine imports, improved monitoring of pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution, and increased public awareness of the dangers associated with buying drugs from unapproved sources.
The warning was reported by *Vanguard* on October 31, 2026, following concerns raised by pharmacists about the circulation of fake and adulterated medicines in the country.
According to the experts, the problem goes beyond individual patients, as the widespread availability of poor-quality medicines could undermine public confidence in healthcare services, increase treatment costs and place additional pressure on hospitals and other health facilities.
Fake Medicines Can Cause Treatment Failure
Pharmacist Franklin Uzoezie explained that counterfeit medicines are products that have been deliberately misrepresented in terms of their identity, composition or source, while substandard medicines fail to meet the required quality standards.
He noted that some counterfeit products may contain no active pharmaceutical ingredient, while others may contain the wrong substance or an incorrect quantity of the ingredient required to treat a particular illness.
Such medicines may appear genuine but fail to produce the expected medical results. In other cases, they may contain harmful substances capable of causing serious complications.
Uzoezie also warned that counterfeit products could be difficult to identify through physical examination alone because their packaging, labels and appearance may closely resemble those of genuine medicines.
He explained that even healthcare professionals might struggle to distinguish between fake and authentic products simply by looking at them, adding that laboratory testing may be required to establish a medicine’s true composition and quality.
The pharmacist therefore advised Nigerians to prioritise the safety and authenticity of medicines over low prices and convenience.
He urged the public to obtain medicines from licensed pharmacies and other legally authorised medicine outlets rather than purchasing them from just any location where drugs are being sold.
Unauthorised Drug Outlets Increase Public Health Risks
Consultant Pharmacist and Pharmaceutical Care Specialist, Yetunde Akinola, also expressed concern about the growing circulation of counterfeit medicines, describing the situation as a serious threat to the health and safety of Nigerians.
Akinola identified patronage of unlicensed drug outlets, roadside vendors and unauthorised online medicine sellers as factors that can encourage the circulation of fake products.
She explained that the desire to purchase medicines at cheaper prices could expose consumers to products that have not undergone the necessary quality checks or have entered the supply chain through illegal channels.
According to her, some counterfeit medicines carry falsified registration numbers and manufacturers’ details designed to deceive unsuspecting buyers into believing that the products are genuine.
Akinola advised consumers to examine medicine labels, expiry dates, batch numbers, packaging and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration details before purchasing medicines.
However, she cautioned that these details could also be falsified, meaning that checking a product’s packaging alone does not guarantee its authenticity.
She stressed that the safest approach is to purchase medicines through registered pharmacies and authorised outlets that obtain their products from legitimate, traceable distributors.
Pharmacists Call for Stronger Regulation
The pharmacists also called on regulatory authorities to strengthen monitoring and enforcement across Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
Akinola urged NAFDAC to intensify inspections at ports of entry, distribution centres, open drug markets and other locations where counterfeit medicines could enter or circulate within the country.
She also called for closer cooperation among government agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacists and law enforcement organisations to identify suspicious products, investigate illegal distribution networks and prevent unsafe medicines from reaching consumers.
Pharmacists, she added, have a responsibility to maintain proper procurement records, comply with professional standards and report suspicious medicines to the appropriate authorities.
The experts maintained that tackling counterfeit medicines requires both effective enforcement and sustained public education.
They argued that consumers must understand that medicines are not ordinary commodities that should be purchased from any seller simply because the price is lower or the outlet is more convenient.
Adulterated Drugs Could Undermine the Healthcare System
Another pharmacist, Adewuyi Ademola, warned that the circulation of adulterated medicines could undermine the entire healthcare system by preventing patients from receiving effective treatment.
Ademola explained that medicines play a critical role in the treatment of illnesses after appropriate diagnosis. When the drugs prescribed to patients are ineffective or unsafe, recovery may be delayed, complications may develop and patients may require additional medical attention.
He warned that widespread treatment failure could place further pressure on healthcare facilities and increase the overall cost of providing medical services.
The concern is particularly significant for patients managing serious illnesses who depend on medicines to control their conditions, prevent complications or support recovery.
The pharmacists therefore called for urgent measures to prevent fake and substandard products from entering Nigeria’s medicine supply chain.
What Nigerians Should Do
The pharmacists advised members of the public to take practical steps to reduce their exposure to unsafe medicines.
These include purchasing drugs from registered pharmacies and authorised medicine outlets, checking expiry dates and packaging, following professional medical advice and reporting suspicious products to the relevant authorities.
Consumers should also avoid self-medication and seek advice from qualified healthcare professionals when they are unsure about the medicines they need.
Anyone who suspects that a medicine is causing an unusual reaction or failing to produce the expected effect should consult a healthcare professional rather than independently increasing the dosage or combining it with other drugs.
They should also avoid assuming that a medicine is genuine simply because its packaging looks professional or carries a registration number.
A Shared Responsibility
The pharmacists maintained that protecting Nigerians from counterfeit and substandard medicines requires collective action by government, regulators, healthcare professionals, manufacturers, medicine distributors and consumers.
While regulatory agencies must strengthen enforcement and improve oversight, members of the public also have an important role to play by choosing authorised medicine outlets and reporting suspicious products.
The warning serves as a reminder that the source and quality of medicines can be as important as the treatment itself.
For Nigeria’s healthcare system to deliver effective treatment and protect patients, experts say safe, genuine and quality-assured medicines must remain a priority throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain.
DDM News Desk reports that Nigerians are being urged to put their health first by avoiding unauthorised medicine sellers and obtaining medicines from trusted, legally approved sources.
