The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has thrown its weight behind the regulatory actions being taken by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to sanitise the pharmacy industry and safeguard the nation’s health. The association called for urgent reforms and government support for local drug manufacturers.

It expressed concern over the resurgence of fake and substandard medicines in Nigeria.

The pharmacists said their support for NAFDAC’s enforcement efforts, including the recent closure of the notorious Sabon-Geri drug market in Kano, was informed by a disturbing trend.

According to internal research by the ACPN, more than 50 per cent of drugs currently circulating in Nigeria may be fake or substandard — figures that are far higher than the official estimate of 13 to 15 per cent.

ACPN noted that the trend mirrored the crisis levels of the 1990s and demanded a systemic response to halt further deterioration.

“Almost five million unregistered drug-selling outfits are operating across Nigeria. It is only through strong enforcement partnerships and legal reform that we can protect consumers,” said ACPN National Chairman Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, in a statement ACPN issued ahead of its 44th annual international conference, scheduled to be held from July 22 to 27 in Awka, Anambra State.

Themed: Technology Integration, Personalised Care: The Future of Community Pharmacy Practice, the conference will serve as a rallying point for stakeholders to discuss the modernization of pharmacy practice.

Igwekamma said the event will focus on adopting cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), telepharmacy, point-of-care diagnostics, and electronic health records, to improve pharmaceutical service delivery across communities.

“Personalised pharmaceutical care must take the centre stage, ensuring that every Nigerian gets tailored, data-driven services from the pharmacy closest to them.

“Our goal is to shift from reactive to preventive care and restore public confidence in the drug supply chain,” he said.

In line with this vision, ACPN lauded local pharmaceutical manufacturers for their resilience in the face of operational and regulatory challenges.

Igwekamma lauded ACPN members’ continued production of essential medicines, despite what he called limited government support, and called for deliberate policy incentives to ease the importation of raw materials and expand local production capacity.

He said: “Strengthening our pharmaceutical industry is not only about healthcare. It is about national security, job creation, and economic growth.

“Nigeria must position itself to take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area by becoming a hub for quality pharmaceutical production.”

The ACPN national chairman urged the National Assembly to urgently amend what he called the outdated Fake Drug and Unwholesome Food Act to reflect current realities and give regulatory agencies more legal backing.

The collapse of Federal and State Task Forces on fake drugs, the group said, has left gaping holes in the nation’s ability to monitor and secure its pharmaceutical supply chain.

The upcoming conference in Awka is expected to attract more than 3,000 delegates from within and outside Nigeria, including pharmacists, researchers, policymakers, tech innovators, and healthcare entrepreneurs.