The Senate has passed for second reading a bill seeking to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against counterfeit medicines, proposing tougher penalties for offenders, including up to 15 years’ imprisonment, multi-million-naira fines, asset forfeiture and mandatory compensation for victims.
The proposed legislation, titled the Counterfeit Medical Products, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Prohibition and Control) Bill, 2026, aims to repeal and replace the existing 2004 law, which lawmakers say is no longer adequate to combat increasingly sophisticated counterfeit drug syndicates.
Leading the debate during plenary, the sponsor of the bill, Sulaiman Umar Sadiq (APC, Kwara North), described counterfeit medicines as “weapons of mass destruction” that pose serious threats to public health and national security.
According to the lawmaker, the government has a duty to ensure that Nigerians have access to genuine, safe and effective medicines, but criminal networks continue to endanger lives by producing and distributing fake pharmaceutical products for profit.
Sadiq noted that the menace has expanded beyond counterfeit prescription drugs to include adulterated cosmetics, contaminated packaged water and unwholesome processed foods sold in open markets, motor parks, roadside shops and through illicit online platforms.
To address the growing challenge, the bill retains the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as the lead regulatory agency while significantly expanding its enforcement powers.
If enacted, the legislation will empower NAFDAC to deploy advanced product tracking and tracing technologies to monitor the movement of regulated products across the country.
The bill also proposes the establishment of a multi-agency national task force comprising the NAFDAC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria to tackle cross-border smuggling and dismantle counterfeit distribution networks.
To accelerate the prosecution of offenders, the bill grants exclusive jurisdiction over related cases to the Federal High Court, provides for expedited hearings and recognises electronic evidence in criminal proceedings.
Following overwhelming support during plenary, Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) for further legislative scrutiny. The committee is expected to report back to the Senate in the coming weeks.
Senate Advances Electronic Health Services Bill
The Senate also passed for second reading a separate bill seeking to establish a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for the development, coordination and integration of electronic health services in Nigeria.
Sponsored by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, the proposed legislation, titled the Electronic Health Services Bill, 2026 (SB. 758), seeks to provide the legal foundation for the adoption, regulation and expansion of digital healthcare services nationwide.
The bill aims to strengthen healthcare delivery through the use of technology, including telemedicine, electronic medical records, digital health information management and improved integration of health data across healthcare institutions.
Lawmakers unanimously approved the bill for second reading before Senate President Akpabio referred it to the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) for detailed consideration.
The committee has been given four weeks to review the bill, consult relevant stakeholders where necessary and submit its recommendations to the Senate.
If passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President, the legislation is expected to improve access to healthcare through digital platforms, enhance the security and management of health information, strengthen coordination within Nigeria’s healthcare system and align the country’s health sector with global best practices in digital healthcare.
The proposed law is also expected to encourage innovation by establishing clear standards for the deployment and regulation of electronic health services across Nigeria.
