SGF calls for stronger ACPN-NAFDAC partnership to fight counterfeit drugs

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has thrown his weight behind a stronger nationwide campaign against counterfeit medicines, calling on the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to deepen its collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to eliminate fake and substandard drugs from Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain.

Senator Akume made the appeal on Thursday while receiving the leadership of the ACPN, led by its National Chairman, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, during a courtesy visit in Abuja. The delegation formally invited the SGF to serve as the Special Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony of the ACPN’s 45th Annual International Scientific Conference, an invitation he officially accepted.

The conference, tagged “Unity 2026” and themed “From Local Pharmacy Practice to Global Impact: Managing Complex Political Systems,” is scheduled to hold at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Speaking during the meeting, Senator Akume described community pharmacists as indispensable partners in Nigeria’s healthcare system, stressing that their strategic position within communities makes them critical allies in the nation’s battle against counterfeit and substandard medicines.

According to him, the proliferation of fake drugs remains one of the greatest threats to public health and requires a united front involving regulators, healthcare professionals, manufacturers and the general public.

“The menace of fake drugs continues to pose a serious danger to the health and well-being of Nigerians. You must join hands with NAFDAC in checking this menace because it is a responsibility that demands the support of all of us. While NAFDAC is doing a great deal, it also requires the active collaboration of professional bodies such as the ACPN,” the SGF said.

His remarks come as NAFDAC intensifies nationwide enforcement operations, including the establishment of a dedicated task force in Kano State to dismantle illegal drug markets, disrupt counterfeit medicine distribution networks and curb the growing menace of drug abuse fuelled by substandard pharmaceutical products.

Senator Akume noted that with NAFDAC expanding intelligence gathering and enforcement across key commercial centres, community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to detect counterfeit medicines at the grassroots and prevent them from reaching unsuspecting Nigerians.

The SGF also encouraged Nigerian pharmacists to strengthen local pharmaceutical manufacturing through international partnerships and knowledge exchange.

Drawing from recent engagements with a Ugandan delegation, he observed that Uganda has made commendable progress in domestic drug production and urged Nigerian professionals to leverage similar collaborations to enhance local manufacturing capacity.

Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to healthcare reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Senator Akume said the administration remains focused on expanding access to quality healthcare by establishing more specialised medical facilities and increasing admission opportunities for students pursuing medicine, pharmacy and other health-related disciplines.

He assured the ACPN of sustained government support for initiatives that promote pharmaceutical excellence, quality healthcare delivery and the protection of Nigerians from counterfeit medicines.

Describing the ACPN conference as a significant platform for professional engagement, innovation and policy dialogue, the SGF urged participants to develop practical solutions capable of strengthening pharmacy practice, enhancing pharmaceutical care and accelerating Nigeria’s journey toward universal health coverage.

Earlier, ACPN National Chairman, Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, said the visit was to formally invite Senator Akume to the opening ceremony of the association’s flagship scientific conference.

He explained that the annual conference would bring together policymakers, healthcare professionals, regulators, academics and industry leaders to deliberate on critical issues shaping the future of pharmacy practice and healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

Accepting the invitation, Senator Akume expressed delight at the conference theme, describing it as timely in view of the growing challenge posed by counterfeit medicines.

He pledged his full support for the conference and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s readiness to partner with community pharmacists in advancing healthcare reforms across the country.

Responding, Ezeh thanked the SGF for accepting the invitation and for endorsing the association’s campaign against fake medicines.

He assured the Federal Government that community pharmacists across Nigeria are committed to strengthening strategic collaboration with NAFDAC and other regulatory agencies to eliminate counterfeit medicines and safeguard public health.

According to him, modern pharmacy practice has evolved far beyond medicine dispensing, with pharmacists now serving as frontline healthcare providers contributing significantly to primary healthcare, medicine safety, disease prevention, universal health coverage and national development.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office (GSO), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, mni, called for stronger collaboration among healthcare professionals to improve patient care, strengthen pharmacy practice and accelerate local pharmaceutical production.

Dr. Kana observed that pharmacy has undergone remarkable transformation globally, expanding into pharmaceutical manufacturing, research, medication administration and other specialised areas that continue to improve healthcare outcomes.

He also noted growing inter-professional cooperation within Nigeria’s health sector, citing recent engagements involving the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as evidence of improving synergy among critical stakeholders.

The high-level engagement underscores the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to building a safer and more resilient healthcare system through stronger partnerships with professional bodies. With the ACPN, NAFDAC and other stakeholders aligning efforts, expectations are high that Nigeria’s campaign against fake medicines will gain fresh momentum while driving local pharmaceutical production, improved medicine safety and sustainable universal health coverage.