Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has issued a strong call to action to the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, urging them to deepen their collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to eliminate fake and substandard drugs from the country's pharmaceutical supply chain. Senator Akume made the appeal on Thursday, July 23, 2026, while receiving the leadership of the ACPN, led by its National Chairman, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, during a courtesy visit at his office 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 in 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. He described the fight against counterfeit medicines as one that demands coordinated action by government agencies, professional bodies, pharmaceutical manufacturers and the public. 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.
Earlier, ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. 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. He thanked the SGF for accepting the invitation and for endorsing the association's campaign against fake medicines, assuring 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.
In his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, called for stronger collaboration among healthcare professionals and stakeholders to advance pharmacy practice, improve patient care and accelerate local pharmaceutical production. Kana noted that pharmacy has expanded globally into areas such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, research and medication administration, while commending the growing cooperation among health institutions in Nigeria, including recent engagements involving the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. The SGF's call for stronger partnership between community pharmacists and NAFDAC comes at a critical time when Nigeria is grappling with the pervasive threat of counterfeit medicines, which experts have identified as a major contributor to treatment failures, drug resistance and preventable deaths across the country.
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