What is NAFDAC doing about fake drugs and the NYSC camp death investigation?

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1. 1

   Nafdac And The Counterfeit Crisis In Nigeria: Chinese-Linked Networks, Supply-Chain Vulnerabilities And Regulatory Challenges

   Central Asian Journal of Theoretical and Applied Science (Sule)Published Sep 19, 2026Checked Oct 20, 2026

   “The study finds that counterfeiting is increasingly a networked problem involving production, importation, warehousing, logistics, wholesale, retail and consumer demand. NAFDAC reported that more than ₦1.5 trillion worth of regulated products had been confiscated and destroyed in major enforcement operations and that 64 counterfeit-related convictions were secured between June 2025 and June 2026 (Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation [FMINO], 2026). The study argues that attributing the crisis exclusively to foreign operators would overlook Nigerian actors and institutional weaknesses that enable counterfeit products to reach consumers. It therefore recommends integrated counterfeit intelligence, end-to-end product traceability, coordinated prosecution, stronger market surveillance and accelerated legitimate local manufacturing. The study concludes that Nigeria must move from reactive seizure towards preventive disruption of the supply chains that sustain counterfeiting.”

2. 2

   A comparative study between Near-Infrared (NIR) spectrometer and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) on the sensitivity and specificity.

   PloS one (Maffioli & Anyakora)Published Mar 25, 2025Checked Oct 20, 2026

   “We compared a novel Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectrometer with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) by analyzing 246 drug samples purchased from retail pharmacies across the six geopolitical regions of Nigeria. We measured the sensitivity and specificity of a patented and Artificial Intelligence (AI) - powered handheld NIR spectrometer, which uses a proprietary machine-learning algorithm as well as hardware and software, across four categories of medicines: analgesics, antimalarials, antibiotics, and antihypertensives. Our findings reveal that the prevalence of SF medicines remains high, with 25% of samples failing the HPLC test. When tested with the NIR spectrometer, only a smaller subset of medicines-specifically analgesics-failed the test. Sensitivity and specificity for all medicines were 11% and 74%, respectively. For analgesics, the sensitivity was 37%, and the specificity was 47%. While these devices hold great potential, regulators should require more independent evaluations of various drug formulations before implementing them in real-world settings. Improving the sensitivity of these devices should be prioritized to ensure that no SF medicines reach patients.”

3. 3

   Nearly one in five essential medicines fail quality standards in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis of MNCH medicines and antimalarials.

   PLOS global public health (Rusatira et al.)Published Sep 2, 2026Checked Oct 20, 2026

   “Estimates for corticosteroids and hematinics carried wide confidence intervals, reflecting sparse underlying data. Western and Central Africa had the greatest regional burdens, whereas Southern Africa showed lower pooled estimates but with sparse data. Substandard medicines accounted for most poor-quality products (pooled prevalence 12.8%), while falsified medicines were less common (1.2%). Therapeutic category, geographic subregion, and use of mystery-client purchasing were significant predictors of heterogeneity, whereas publication year and methodological quality were not. Nearly one in five essential MNCH and antimalarial medicines tested in Africa are SF, posing a major barrier to reducing preventable maternal, neonatal, and child mortality. Strengthened regulatory systems, risk-based post-market surveillance, and priority attention to high-risk therapeutics, particularly uterotonics and antimalarials, are urgently needed. As the African Medicines Agency becomes operational, this evidence base offers a concrete foundation for directing continental regulatory investment where it is most needed.”

4. 4

   An Investigation into NAFDAC Intervention on the Incidence of Fake and Counterfeit Drugs in Nigeria

   Texila international journal of public health (Olaniran)Published Sep 29, 2023Checked Oct 20, 2026

   “The interventions highlighted were Mobile Authentication Services (MAS), on-the-spot checks on drugs through a TruScan, Black-Eye and Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID). The respondents also highlighted using NAFDAC registration numbers and holograms as important ways of checking the features of medicine before using it. The participants also highlighted the lack of public awareness about these interventions and the need for proper regulation and enforcement of laws against the sale and distribution of fake drugs as challenges that hinder the successful development and implementation of interventions against fake and counterfeit drugs. The participants suggested KYC measures to address issues within the supply chain to evaluate the effectiveness of their current strategies. Regular meetings, advocacy efforts, and educational workshops are recommended to raise awareness and educate stakeholders about their roles and responsibilities in pursuit of addressing the challenges related to counterfeit drug interventions. Keywords: Focus group discussion (FGD), Investigation, Intervention, Counterfeit, Technology.”

5. 5

   Perception of Consumers, Stakeholders, and Policy Makers on NAFDAC Anti-counterfeit Technologies and Interventions Regarding Counterfeit Drugs in Nigeria

   Texila international journal of academic research (Olaniran)Published Jul 28, 2023Checked Oct 20, 2026

   “Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Stakeholders emphasised the importance of NAFDAC having a comprehensive anti-counterfeiting strategy and implementing measures such as checking for NAFDAC registration numbers, inspecting packaging, and requesting seller receipts to identify genuine medicines. Policymakers at NAFDAC acknowledge the seriousness of the problem and recognise the roles of stakeholders in implementing anti-counterfeiting interventions. They emphasise the need for effective communication, engagement, and collaboration with healthcare professionals. Consumers express concerns about the accessibility to good quality medicines and the prevalence of substandard and counterfeit drugs. However, consumers also demonstrate a willingness to support NAFDAC's efforts and show a preference for quality medicines, which is a positive indicator for the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry. The findings underscore the importance of continuous efforts to raise awareness and implement effective anti-counterfeiting strategies to safeguard public health and combat the growing threat of fake drugs. Keywords: Falsified, Substandard, Counterfeit, Knowledge.”

6. 6

   Drivers and strategies to combat substandard and falsified medicines in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review of qualitative evidence.

   The journal of medicine access (Mekasha et al.)Published Jan 1, 2026Checked Oct 20, 2026

   “In addition, the review identified that emphasizing the need for strengthening regulatory systems, technological innovations (track and trace), public and professional education, and addressing underlying socioeconomic drivers are among the main actions used as mitigation strategies. This qualitative systematic review concluded that interconnected market pressures, weak regulation, fragile supply chains, and knowledge gaps are significant issues. Hence, effective action requires integrated policies that strengthen enforcement capacity, secure supply chains through affordable track-and-trace technologies, and launch context-specific education campaigns to combat public mistrust in quality-assured generics. These lead to translating systemic insights into practical policy implementation for medicine quality and positive public health outcomes.”

7. 7

   Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of Consumers and Stakeholders on Counterfeit Drugs and Anti-Counterfeit Technology in Nigeria

   Texila international journal of public health (Olaniran et al.)Published Mar 29, 2024Checked Oct 20, 2026

   “The selected states for the study are Lagos, Kano, Anambra and FCT Abuja. Data were obtained using structured questionnaires with mainly closed-ended questions and analysed using SPSS (IBM-SPSS version 21). The findings show that the highest proportion of consumers who have heard about counterfeit or fake drugs before was from Lagos (97.1%). The study also found that stakeholders know highly about fake/counterfeit drugs (94.3%). The results show that 62.0% of consumers knew about drug anti-counterfeiting technology, and most stakeholders (79.0) knew about NAFDAC Anti- Counterfeiting Interventions. However, respondents from Lagos had the highest level of awareness (77.3%) of the Anti-Counterfeiting Interventions. The results also revealed that stakeholders exhibited a positive perception of NAFDAC’s innovative techs., (TruScan, RFID, GPHF MINILABS, Black Eye, Others) to curb fake drugs. The findings emphasise raising awareness, implementing effective anti- counterfeiting strategies, and addressing financial limitations to protect public health and combat Nigeria’s growing threat of fake drugs.”