Drug Distributors Demand Full Implementation of National Drug Distribution Guidelines

The Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (PWDAN) has called on the Federal Government to fully enforce the National Drug Distribution Guidelines introduced in 2012 to curb the spread of counterfeit medicines.

At the conclusion of a three-day conference in Ikeja, Lagos State, PWDAN Chairman Ogheneochuko Omaruaye emphasized that recent crackdowns on open drug markets revealed weaknesses in the current distribution framework, posing setbacks in the fight against fake drugs.

Omaruaye stated that the failure to implement the policy, which clearly defines the roles of stakeholders across the drug supply chain, has impeded national efforts to secure medicine distribution.

“The closure of open drug markets disrupted supply chains and exposed system vulnerabilities, but it also presents an opportunity to strengthen our distribution networks,” he said.

He urged all stakeholders to unite and ensure private sector distributors are fully integrated into government plans, warning that sidelining them would harm collective medical security efforts.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), represented by Regina Garba, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting public health through enhanced regulation, including strengthened distribution practices, post-market surveillance, and digital tracking systems.

She emphasized that securing the pharmaceutical supply chain requires joint accountability from regulators, manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers.

Additional support came from Ibrahim Ahmed, Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, and Ayuba Ibrahim, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, who pledged to back initiatives promoting a safe and professional drug distribution network.