The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has introduced two innovative mobile technologies—Scan2Verify and the NAFDAC Green Book—designed to combat the proliferation of counterfeit medicines in Nigeria.
A two-day sensitisation workshop held in Gombe brought together key stakeholders from various healthcare sectors. During the workshop, participants were introduced to the Scan2Verify App and the Green Book App, tools designed to authenticate medicines and enhance public safety.
The workshop, which targeted pharmaceutical vendors, medical doctors, and other healthcare professionals, emphasised the need to adopt these technologies to ensure that only genuine medicines reach consumers.
Speaking at the event, NAFDAC’s Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by the Director of Post-Marketing Surveillance, Mr Bitrus Fraden, reassured participants that all medicines registered with NAFDAC are safe and can only be accessed through authorised outlets.
Professor Adeyeye further explained that the Green Book App acts as a digital registry, listing all medicines certified and approved by the agency.
“Users can quickly verify a drug’s authenticity. Any product not listed is considered counterfeit,” she said.
The North-Eastern Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Mr Chike Obiano, hailed the Scan2Verify App as a significant development, noting that it is secure and effective in verifying product authenticity and thwarting counterfeiters, whom he referred to as “merchants of death”.
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He added that the verification process begins with retailers confirming a product’s authenticity upon purchase from wholesalers.
“With the introduction of this Scan2Verify App, the public can now rest easy,” Mr Obiano remarked.
NAFDAC’s Coordinator in Gombe State, Mr James Agada, announced that the agency has launched a nationwide sensitisation campaign, beginning with one state from each of the six geopolitical zones. He added that more states will be included in subsequent phases until the entire country is covered.
To ensure that these sensitisation efforts reach grassroots levels, Agada explained that officials from relevant organisations are being trained to disseminate the knowledge throughout their institutions, including those in rural areas.
Participants, including patent medicine dealers and shop owners, commended NAFDAC for what they described as a timely and vital initiative.
Workshop attendees, Hakubu Yusuf and Hauwa Musa, both praised the training as a significant step toward addressing the issue of counterfeit drugs.
NAFDAC also reiterated its ongoing efforts to close down counterfeit drug markets in Lagos, Onitsha, and other parts of the country, reaffirming its commitment to public health and safety.
The agency highlighted the importance of public awareness in the fight against counterfeit drugs and encouraged individuals to verify medicines before use and make informed health decisions.
