LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has urged citizens to use medicines responsibly, warning that misuse poses serious risks to patient safety and public health. Speaking at a sensitisation programme in Mushin, Lagos, on Wednesday, NAFDAC’s Director of Pharmacovigilance, Uchenna Elemuwa, said irrational practices such as self-medication, antibiotic abuse, and counterfeit drugs contribute to treatment failure, prolonged illness, and avoidable deaths.
Elemuwa, representing Director General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, stressed that antimicrobial resistance is one of the gravest consequences of misuse, noting that infections once easily treatable are becoming harder and more expensive to manage. She emphasized the importance of pharmacovigilance the science of detecting and preventing adverse drug effects and urged healthcare professionals and the public to report harmful reactions, saying even a single report can save thousands of lives.
Local officials, including Mushin council chairman Tunbosun Aruwe, praised NAFDAC’s efforts and pledged support for initiatives that promote medication safety. He said the programme aimed to raise awareness at the community level, adding that his administration would continue to provide free medical outreach and build modern primary healthcare centers.
The event brought together healthcare workers, community leaders, and civil society groups, underscoring the global concern over medicine misuse. Experts say Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen pharmacovigilance systems are vital, as irrational drug use is a worldwide challenge that undermines health systems, increases costs, and threatens progress against infectious diseases.
