3 days ago
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ABUJA – The Deputy Director of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Antimicrobial Resistance-Human Health (AMR-HO) Focal Person, Dr. Tunde Sigbeku, has raised serious concerns over Nigeria’s growing dependence on imported pharmaceuticals and the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the country.
He gave this hint in his presentation titled: “The Role of NAFDAC and Regulatory Policies in Combating AMR in Nigeria” at a five-day training and capacity building for journalists and SBOS on AMR Advocacy And Media Reporting organized by Fleming Fund Country Grant Antimicrobial Resistance Phase 11 in collaboration with Management Science for Health (MSH) with support from UKaid.
Dr. Sigbeku shared a tragic case where a patient at a teaching hospital lost his life due to the unaffordability of a life-saving drug sourced from the United Kingdom.
According to him, “The patient required a new moiety drug that had not undergone trials in Nigeria. NAFDAC granted approval in less than three hours for the drug’s importation. However, the cost was staggering N1.6 million per dose, and the patient needed seven doses. Before the family could raise the money, the patient died.”
He emphasized that the case highlights the critical need for improved accessibility, availability, and affordability of essential medicines. “Our healthcare sector is chaotic, and without health insurance coverage that takes care of such emergencies, many Nigerians remain vulnerable,” he added.
Dr. Sigbeku further revealed that Nigeria imports 65% of its finished medicines and 100% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients used in local manufacturing.
“We are import-dependent when it comes to pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and biologicals. This leaves us sitting on a tightrope when it comes to international trade,” he said.
He also expressed concern about the influx of substandard drugs into the Nigerian market. “There was a time we opened capsules imported from the port only to discover that they contained tar. The offender was jailed for just six months. Our laws are too lenient, and this is why counterfeit pharmaceuticals continue to circulate.”
Dr. Sigbeku called for stronger regulations and stricter penalties for offenders, stating that Nigerians themselves are responsible for bringing fake drugs into the country.
“It’s not foreigners smuggling fake drugs into Nigeria; it is Nigerians who travel abroad to bring them in.”
On the threat of antimicrobial resistance, he lamented the complete loss of tetracycline’s effectiveness due to misuse.
“Tetracycline is no longer effective against at least 80% of pathogens. It can now only serve as a growth promoter in poultry farming. We’ve lost tetracycline completely.”
NAFDAC, he said, remains committed to protecting public health by ensuring that all regulated products are of the right quality and efficacy. He stressed the need for all stakeholders, including journalists, to have copies of the National Action Plan 2.0 for AMR to stay informed and accountable.
“As a nation, we must confront the challenges of AMR head-on. Without coordinated efforts and improved health policies, more lives will be lost unnecessarily,” Sigbeku warned.
He urged the government, private sector, and international partners to invest in local pharmaceutical production, strengthen health insurance systems, and intensify public awareness campaigns on AMR to prevent a looming public health crisis in Nigeria.
English (US) ·