By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The Senate on Wednesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to impose stiffer penalties on manufacturers and distributors of fake drugs, including a maximum jail term of 15 years, forfeiture of assets, multi-million-naira fines and mandatory compensation for victims.
The proposed legislation, titled the Counterfeit Medical Products, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Prohibition and Control) Bill, 2026, is aimed at repealing the existing 2004 law, which lawmakers described as outdated and inadequate to tackle the growing sophistication of counterfeit drug syndicates.
Leading the debate, the sponsor of the bill, Senator Suleiman Umar Sadiq (APC, Kwara North), described counterfeit medicines as a major threat to public health and national security, warning that criminal networks had expanded their operations through advanced manufacturing techniques, digital platforms and cross-border smuggling.
He said the illegal trade now extends beyond fake medicines to include adulterated cosmetics, contaminated packaged water, and other unsafe processed foods sold in markets, roadside shops, motor parks, and online platforms.
According to him, Nigerians deserve access to safe, genuine, and effective medicines, and he lamented that counterfeiters’ activities continue to endanger lives for financial gain.
The bill proposes tougher sanctions for offenders, including prison terms of up to 15 years, heavy fines, confiscation of assets linked to the crime and compulsory financial compensation for victims or their families.
It also seeks to strengthen the enforcement powers of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) by empowering it to deploy modern product-tracking and tracing technologies to detect counterfeit products throughout the supply chain.
The legislation further provides for the establishment of a national multi-agency task force comprising NAFDAC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria to coordinate intelligence sharing and dismantle cross-border counterfeit drug networks.
To speed up the prosecution of offenders, the bill proposes exclusive jurisdiction for the Federal High Court over counterfeit drug cases, accelerated trial procedures and the admissibility of electronic evidence in criminal proceedings.
Following unanimous support by senators, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) for further legislative work.
The committee is expected to report back to the Senate in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the Senate also passed a bill for second reading seeking to establish a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for electronic health services in Nigeria.
The bill, sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, seeks to regulate telemedicine, electronic medical records, digital health information management and the integration of health data across healthcare institutions.
The proposed legislation is expected to improve access to healthcare through digital platforms, strengthen the security and management of health information and promote greater coordination in healthcare delivery nationwide.
It also seeks to align Nigeria’s healthcare system with global digital health standards by creating a uniform regulatory framework for electronic health services while encouraging innovation in the sector.
Akpabio subsequently referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), directing it to engage relevant stakeholders and submit its report within four weeks.
If enacted, the legislation will provide Nigeria with its first comprehensive legal framework for electronic healthcare delivery.
