From Doris Obinna
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening drug regulation in Nigeria, with a renewed focus on paediatric formulations.
The agency in a bold move to combat the rising menace of counterfeit and substandard medicines, on Tuesday, in Lagos, unveiled three key initiatives; GreenBook, Traceability and Paediatric policy, during a two-day sensitisation workshop in the North-West Zone, drawing participants from across the healthcare and regulatory sectors.
Representing NAFDAC Director- General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency’s Director, Post Marketing Surveillance, Fraden Bitrus, described the proliferation of substandard and falsified medical products as “the worst inhumanity of man to fellow men.” He emphasized that the new initiatives are designed to empower healthcare professionals and consumers with digital and policy tools to identify and eliminate fake drugs from circulation.
One of the key initiatives unveiled is the NAFDAC Greenbook, a digital platform that allows consumers to verify the authenticity of medical products by searching for a product name, brand, or registration number. Bitrus explained that any product listed in the Greenbook is registered and approved by NAFDAC and therefore considered authentic. Adeyeye highlighted the tool as both a transparency measure and a powerful resource for protecting consumers against unsafe and counterfeit medicines.
Also unveiled was the Pharmaceutical Products Traceability Regulation 2024, a groundbreaking policy requiring all pharmaceutical products in Nigeria to carry unique identifiers. According to Adeyeye, Nigeria is the first country in Africa and the second globally to implement such a comprehensive traceability system.
“The technology enables real-time monitoring of medicines throughout the supply chain, allowing authorities to quickly detect and remove counterfeit products.” She cited its previous success during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it facilitated the recall of defective vaccine batches within 24 hours.
The third initiative, according to him, the Paediatric Regulation 2024, is tailored specifically to address the medical needs of children, ensuring that they receive safe, effective, and high-quality medicines. Adeyeye called the initiative a critical complement to existing regulatory frameworks and urged all stakeholders to embrace and promote the new policies. She described the launch as a collective call to action in the ongoing battle against counterfeit medicines.
In response, stakeholders from various health and regulatory institutions pledged their support. The Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Dr. Ibrahim Babashiu Ahmed, commended NAFDAC’s efforts and encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained at the workshop to enhance patient safety. He affirmed the council’s commitment to working collaboratively to achieve improved health outcomes for Nigerians.
President, Paediatric Association of Nigeria, Prof. Ekanem Ekure, also praised NAFDAC for its focus on children’s health, calling on all relevant parties to support efforts to safeguard future generations.
Similarly, the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) expressed its readiness to intensify enforcement actions against violators and to work closely with NAFDAC in removing dangerous products from the market.
The workshop marks the beginning of a nationwide public awareness campaign aimed at strengthening regulation, increasing consumer participation, and improving overall healthcare delivery across the country.