By Aisha Muhammad Magaji
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced a ban on the sale and use of 101 drugs within Nigeria. This action is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat the circulation of counterfeit, substandard, and expired medications that pose significant risks to public health.
The banned products include various pharmaceutical items that have been found to be non-compliant with NAFDAC’s regulatory standards. These products are no longer permitted for manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale, or use within Nigeria. The specific drugs affected by this ban are detailed in NAFDAC’s official list of withdrawn, suspended, and cancelled products.
NAFDAC has initiated enforcement operations to ensure compliance with this ban. These operations involve the removal of unregistered, expired, banned, diverted donation drugs, substandard, falsified, and illicit narcotics and controlled substances from major open drug markets across the country. The agency has reported that many of the facilities in these markets did not meet the minimum requirements for Good Storage and Distribution Practices.
NAFDAC advises healthcare professionals and consumers to report any suspicion of substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office. The agency emphasizes the importance of vigilance in safeguarding public health and ensuring the integrity of the pharmaceutical market.
