A motion of urgent public importance, sponsored by Tolani Shagaya, a lawmaker from the All Progressives Congress, was read aloud during plenary on Thursday.
Highlighting the significance of the motion, Shagaya expressed concern over the alarming rise in the production, importation, and distribution of fake and substandard goods, drugs, food, and beverages throughout Nigeria, stating that the development poses serious threats to public health, national security, and the nation’s economic stability.
The House of Representatives has urged the Attorney General of the Federation to propose harsher sanctions, including life imprisonment, for those who manufacture and import fake drugs into the country.
According to him, the development poses significant threats to public health, national security, and the economic stability of the nation.
“The House is aware that NAFDAC recently seized counterfeit food and pharmaceutical products worth over ₦5bn in a raid at the Cemetery Market in Aba, Abia State, highlighting the widespread nature of this menace,” he added.
Adding that the World Health Organization and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control have repeatedly warned that Nigeria is one of the most affected countries in the world by counterfeit medicines, contributing to thousands of avoidable deaths annually.
“The House is concerned that Nigeria suffers economic losses of approximately ₦15tn annually due to counterfeit and substandard goods, as reported by the Standards Organization of Nigeria.
The unchecked proliferation of fake products not only jeopardizes consumer safety but also discourages genuine investment in the food and pharmaceutical industries.”
After the lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the motion, the House urged the Attorney General of the Federation to propose amendments to existing laws to impose stricter penalties.
“The House is further concerned that despite existing regulations, weak enforcement mechanisms, corruption, and the absence of stringent penalties for offenders have emboldened perpetrators to continue endangering public health.”
“We recognize that the current legal framework does not provide sufficient deterrence, as offenders often return to the illicit trade due to lenient fines and bailable sentences, allowing them to operate with impunity.
This includes “hefty fines for companies found guilty of dealing in counterfeit goods and life imprisonment for those involved in the production and importation of fake drugs.”
The House also called on the Federal Government to provide sufficient resources, up-to-date equipment, and cutting-edge technology to regulatory agencies, especially NAFDAC, SON, and the Nigerian Customs Service, in order to enhance their capacity for efficient monitoring, detection, and enforcement.
In order to expedite investigations and prosecutions of people and companies engaged in counterfeiting, it further encouraged the Federal Government to form a special task force made up of security agencies, regulatory agencies, and the courts.
Additionally, the House instructed its Committees on Industry, Commerce, and Health to investigate the incidence of counterfeit goods in-depth and suggest legislation to remedy regulatory gaps.