The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria’s leading authority on food and drug safety, has intensified its efforts to combat the rising tide of counterfeit medical products by rallying stakeholders in the South-South region to join the fight.
This call to action was made during a workshop held in Port Harcourt, where NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye passionately urged pharmacists, healthcare providers, and other key players to collaborate in tackling the menace of fake drugs that endanger public health nationwide. The workshop, which was a sensitization and awareness event, focused on finalizing a draft regulation to enhance pharmaceutical traceability while introducing stakeholders to NAFDAC’s latest tool in this battle—the Greenbook app.
Adeyeye, represented at the event by Fraden Bitrus, Director of the Post-Marketing Surveillance Directorate, explained that Nigeria’s disorganized drug distribution system remains a major hurdle in ensuring the safety of its citizens. She described it as a chaotic network that allows falsified medicines and diverted health commodities to infiltrate the market, posing dire risks to both public health and the economy. To address this, NAFDAC is rolling out a comprehensive traceability strategy, which Adeyeye hopes will bring much-needed transparency and accountability to the supply chain before her tenure concludes.
A standout feature of this initiative is the NAFDAC Greenbook, a mobile app launched to empower Nigerians to verify the authenticity of registered drug products. Available for download on the Apple Store and Google Play Store via greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng, the app is a database of all NAFDAC-approved drugs, designed to counter the sophisticated tactics used by counterfeiters.
The Port Harcourt workshop also served as a platform to showcase Nigeria’s pioneering role in this fight. Adeyeye revealed that Nigeria is the first country in Africa—and the second globally—to adopt this cutting-edge traceability technology, a milestone she believes will set a new standard in pharmaceutical oversight. She urged stakeholders to embrace the Greenbook app and support broader efforts to eliminate substandard and falsified medical products, ensuring Nigerians have access to safe, effective medicines. The event highlighted the severe consequences of counterfeit drugs, which often lack active ingredients or fail to meet quality standards, leading to treatment failures, worsening health conditions, and even death.
Beyond technology, Adeyeye emphasized the importance of a united front. The workshop brought together a diverse group—pharmacists, doctors, nurses, and state officials—to align on the new regulations and commit to their enforcement. She stressed that a robust legal framework, paired with clear guidelines, is essential to foster cooperation and halt the spread of fake medicines. Adding weight to this message, Rivers State Commissioner for Health Adaeze Oreh, represented by Quanta Dappa, the state’s Coordinator for Drug and Substance Abuse Control, pledged full support to NAFDAC’s mission. Oreh praised Adeyeye’s leadership, noting, “We are very pleased with the commitment of the NAFDAC DG and her team in eliminating these unscrupulous elements from our society.”
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The South-South zone’s NAFDAC Director, Oligbu Chukwuma, reinforced this resolve, stating that state coordinators are implementing strict measures to curb counterfeit products, backed by monthly activity reports and evidence. “There is zero tolerance for counterfeit drugs in Nigeria,” he told journalists on the sidelines of the event. By combining innovative tools like the Greenbook app with stakeholder collaboration, NAFDAC aims to secure the drug supply chain and protect public health. Adeyeye’s vision is clear: with collective effort and advanced technology, the days of fake drugs plaguing Nigeria could soon be numbered, starting with the South-South region’s critical role in this nationwide crusade.
