The Nigerian House of Representatives has urged the Attorney General of the Federation to propose life imprisonment for those involved in the production and importation of counterfeit drugs.
This followed a motion sponsored by APC lawmaker Tolani Shagaya, who expressed concern over the rise in fake goods. He stated, “Nigeria is one of the most affected countries in the world by counterfeit medicines, contributing to thousands of avoidable deaths annually.”
The House highlighted that Nigeria suffers an estimated ₦15 trillion loss annually from counterfeit products, with NAFDAC’s recent seizure of fake goods worth over ₦5 billion underscoring the extent of the issue.
Lawmakers pointed out that current penalties are insufficient, with offenders often returning to the illicit trade due to lenient sentences.
The House is now pushing for stronger enforcement and regulatory measures to address this growing threat to public health and the economy.
