Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has called for a minimum fine of N25 million and a jail term of up to 20 years for counterfeit drug peddlers, urging the National Assembly to expedite amendments to the law to deter offenders and strengthen medicine security.

The PSN President, Ayuba Tanko, disclosed this during a press conference ahead of the society’s 99th Annual National Conference, tagged Ijele 2026, arguing that existing penalties were inadequate to discourage the lucrative trade in fake medicines.

Tanko, who attended a Senate public hearing on the proposed legislation, said the amendment provides for a fine of not less than N25 million, imprisonment of between five and 20 years, or both, alongside forfeiture of assets traceable to convicted offenders.

Beyond tougher penalties, Tanko called for full implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines, approved by the Federal Ministry of Health in 2015 to facilitate the relocation of open drug markets to Coordinated Wholesale Centres.

He identified Idumota in Lagos, Headbridge in Onitsha, Sabongeri in Kano and Ariaria in Aba as the markets targeted in the first phase. He urged the Federal Government to collaborate with Lagos, Anambra and Abia states to remove obstacles delaying their projects and accelerate plans for centres in Ibadan, Enugu and Maiduguri.

MEANWHILE, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake, expired and substandard products worth N2.6 billion in Rivers State, as part of a nationwide crackdown on counterfeit and unwholesome goods.

The products, which included pharmaceutical items, chemicals, tomato paste, biscuits and other consumer goods considered unsafe for use or consumption, were seized by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Onne Port between 2025 and 2026.

The destruction took place over the weekend at the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) dumpsite along the Oyigbo Expressway, Elelenwo, Port Harcourt.

Speaking during the exercise, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, who also chairs the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods, said the exercise marked the first phase of the destruction of the seized products.

He added that more seized goods were expected to be evacuated from the port for destruction, noting that stronger collaboration among relevant agencies would help speed up the process.