The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (Nafdac) has launched a revised National Action Plan on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products in Abuja. The framework aims to bolster Nigeria's medical supply chain through prevention, detection, and response measures. It accompanies three new initiatives focused on maternal and child health.
On November 13, 2025, Nafdac unveiled its revised National Action Plan on Substandard and Falsified (SF) Medical Products during an event in Abuja. The plan seeks to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s medical supply chain and protect public health by emphasizing proactive strategies, including public education, enhanced regulation, inter-agency collaboration, and early warning systems for detecting falsified medicines.
Nafdac Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye highlighted the dangers of substandard and falsified products, calling them “a grave threat to the healthcare system” that undermine public confidence, endanger lives, and reduce the effectiveness of legitimate treatments. She stated, “This action plan reaffirms Nigeria’s dedication to protecting its citizens from unsafe medical products and ensuring that every medicine used in the country meets the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficacy.” The framework is built on three pillars: Prevention, Detection, and Response (PDR), with a focus on enforcement, rapid interventions, and accountability to remove unsafe products from circulation.
Implementation relies on stakeholders such as government ministries, regulatory bodies, law enforcement, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and healthcare providers. Adeyeye emphasized the need for collaboration with international partners like the World Health Organisation (WHO), Interpol, and regional networks to share intelligence and expertise.
At the same launch, Nafdac introduced three complementary initiatives: the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health + Nutrition (MNCH+N) Initiative, the Nafdac Office of Women and Children’s Health (NOWCH), and programs to reduce maternal and child mortality and malnutrition. Describing them as “interconnected pillars” to safeguard vulnerable groups, Adeyeye noted that NOWCH will promote safe motherhood, rational medicine use, exclusive breastfeeding, and the elimination of harmful practices like drug misuse and unsafe cosmetics. It will also support local production of paediatric medicines and menstrual hygiene products through partnerships.
The MNCH+N Initiative addresses malnutrition and mortality root causes by ensuring regulatory standards for nutrition commodities and enforcing breastfeeding-friendly policies.
Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Pate reported a 17 per cent decline in maternal deaths and a 10 per cent drop in newborn deaths over the past two years, though he cautioned that progress remains insufficient given Nigeria's population. He warned that substandard medicines fuel antimicrobial resistance, erode trust, and cost lives, underscoring the plan's importance for healthcare integrity.
Hon. Regina Akume, Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Nafdac, called the launches “a major milestone” for maternal and child health and nutrition.