The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) issued a warning on Friday to patent medicine dealers operating in Imo State, cautioning them against the sale of lethal, counterfeit and expired medicines to members of the public.
NAFDAC, the federal body responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution and use of food, drugs and other regulated products in Nigeria, said the warning targets dealers who may be supplying sub‑standard or falsified medicines that pose serious health risks.
In its statement, the agency urged all patent medicine vendors in Imo to verify the authenticity and expiry dates of the products they sell, and to immediately remove any suspect items from their shelves. The agency also reminded the public to purchase medicines only from reputable outlets and to check packaging for proper labeling.
Counterfeit and expired medicines have been a persistent challenge across Nigeria, contributing to treatment failures and drug‑related deaths. NAFDAC regularly conducts inspections and public awareness campaigns to curb the circulation of such products.
Failure to comply with the warning could result in enforcement actions, including the seizure of illegal stock, fines or the revocation of operating licences for offending dealers.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>