Mary Njoku Raises Red Flag Over Fake Drugs in Nigeria, Urges Urgent NAFDAC Action

Renowned Nollywood actress and producer, Mary Remmy Njoku, has sounded the alarm over the growing danger of counterfeit and ineffective medications in Nigeria, urging the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to swiftly investigate the matter. According to iReporter Online, Njoku expressed her concern via Instagram following a disturbing experience involving a supposed antidiarrheal drug purchased locally.

Recounting her ordeal, Njoku disclosed that she suffered from food poisoning while on a film set and sent someone to buy Imodium—an over-the-counter remedy she had used successfully in the past—from a popular pharmacy chain in Nigeria. Despite taking the medication for three consecutive days, her condition showed no improvement. However, she noted that shortly after her husband gave her the same medication sourced from abroad, her symptoms vanished within five minutes.

According to iReporter Online, Njoku stated this wasn’t the first time she had noticed a stark difference between locally sold drugs and those obtained overseas. The mother of three questioned the safety and quality of pharmaceuticals being circulated in the country, describing the situation as a public health emergency.

In her words, “What exactly are we being sold in Nigeria? This is a public health risk and NAFDAC must take it seriously. This is very dangerous.” Her revelation has ignited fresh conversations about the effectiveness of drugs on the Nigerian market and the urgency for regulatory bodies to take more decisive action.

According to iReporter Online, many Nigerians have echoed her sentiments online, calling for greater transparency, accountability, and tighter surveillance within Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain.