For millions of Nigerians, the risk is silent but deadly. A fake drug bought at a roadside stall. An adulterated syrup in a pharmacy. A mislabelled chemical sold online. On Wednesday, the Senate said enough. In a decisive move, lawmakers passed for second reading a sweeping bill designed to tighten Nigeria’s laws, punish offenders more severely, and give regulators the tools to protect lives. The message was clear: the era of impunity for counterfeit medicines and unsafe food is coming to an end, reports by Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka Our Managing Editor on Wednesday.
The Senate, presided over by Godswill Akpabio, took the major step during plenary. The proposed legislation is titled the Counterfeit Medical Products, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Prohibition and Control) Bill, 2026, SB.951.
It was sponsored by Senator Umar Sadiq Suleiman (Kwwara North. After debate, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Secondary and Tertiary, with a mandate to report back in four weeks.
Leading the debate, Senator Suleiman said the bill seeks to repeal the obsolete Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Act of 2004. That law, Cap. C34, he argued, can no longer address today’s threats.
According to him, advances in technology, online marketing, and cross-border trafficking have given criminal networks new ways to operate.
The old law, he said, is simply inadequate. The core purpose of the bill is protection. Senator Suleiman stated it aims to prevent deaths and disabilities caused by fake medicines and to restore confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The legislation takes a broad approach to criminalisation. It targets the production, importation, manufacture, transportation, distribution, sale, and possession of counterfeit medical products and fake drugs. It also covers unwholesome processed foods.
The bill further prohibits making or possessing labels, wrappers, packaging materials, and equipment used to produce fakes.
Sales in unauthorised places are directly addressed. The bill bans hawking drugs in markets, motor parks, roadside stalls, buses, ferries, and on unlicensed online platforms. Punishments proposed are severe. Serious offenders face prison terms of up to 15 years, heavy fines, and compensation for victims or their families. Corporate organisations and their directors will also be held liable if found culpable.
The goal, lawmakers said, is to create real deterrence. To back enforcement, the bill strengthens NAFDAC significantly. The agency would be empowered to deploy modern product tracking technologies. It would also establish national and state enforcement task forces. NAFDAC officers would be able to inspect facilities, seize counterfeit products, arrest suspects, and seal offending premises.
Port surveillance would be improved to stop fake goods at entry points.
The bill also gives the Federal High Court exclusive jurisdiction over cases arising from the Act. Trials are to be accelerated to prevent delays in prosecution.
Senator Suleiman described the proposal as a life-saving intervention that goes beyond punishment. He said it seeks to protect public health, safeguard legitimate businesses, and align Nigeria with global best practices. The bill received overwhelming support during debate.
Senator Samson Ekong called it timely and long overdue. He lamented that fake medicines have become so common that “the principal beneficiaries” are casket makers. Senator Adams Oshiomhole said virtually every Nigerian has been a victim or is at risk.
He described fake medicines as “instruments of death” and linked them to rising kidney disease and organ failure.
Not all contributions were without caution. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin supported the bill but asked for clarity on its relationship with the existing NAFDAC Act. He noted that concerns about duplication had been raised, but said NAFDAC itself supports the bill because of gaps in current law.
Barau urged the committee to ensure the new law strengthens rather than duplicates NAFDAC’s powers.
Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire also commended the objectives but questioned if some provisions were already covered. He warned against unnecessary duplication of regulatory duties. Former Senate Leader Yahaya Abdullahi backed the bill but recommended a broad public hearing.
He said the pharmaceutical profession and regulators should help decide if amendments to the NAFDAC Act would be better. Senator Victor Umeh observed that fighting fake drugs already falls under NAFDAC’s mandate.
Still, he supported the bill moving forward, trusting that consultations would shape the final version.
In his closing remarks, Senate President Akpabio thanked senators for their contributions. He said issues around NAFDAC’s role had been noted and would be addressed during the public hearing. With voice votes in favour, the bill passed second reading. It now moves to committee for detailed work, as Nigeria takes a firm step toward ending the trade in fake drugs and unsafe food.
