NAFDAC Trains Pharmacists Reserve For National Regulatory Operations

LAGOS, NIGERIA — Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) enrolled 600 pharmacists in its Pharmacists Reserve Volunteer Program on 14 September 2026. Deploying a NAFDAC trains pharmacists reserve force represents the largest coordinated regulatory initiative in West Africa aimed at combating counterfeit drug distribution.

Participants were selected from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure equitable distribution across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Program Scope and Core Regulatory Operations

NAFDAC Director General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye emphasized that regulatory integrity relies on institutional independence. The enrolled volunteer pharmacists expand NAFDAC’s baseline workforce of 900 field officers, significantly extending state-level monitoring capabilities.

Program Metric	Operational Scope & Strategy
Total Volunteers Enrolled	600 certified pharmaceutical professionals
Geographic Coverage	All 36 States & Federal Capital Territory
Baseline Permanent Staff	~900 core NAFDAC field officers
Target Field Capability	Quadrupled enforcement presence across local markets

Supply Chain Security and Counterfeit Drug Containment

Nigeria faces unique pharmaceutical supply chain risks, importing over 70 percent of finished medicines and 96 percent of raw active ingredients. This heavy import dependency creates vulnerability to falsified product infiltration across informal drug channels.

By mobilizing local volunteers, the agency expands inspection activities across retail outlets and primary health centers. Deploying this volunteer network ensures that NAFDAC trains pharmacists reserve members to execute rapid emergency recalls and post-market surveillance.

Why It Matters: Scaling up volunteer field enforcement protects public health by detecting and removing substandard medicines before they reach consumers.

Source: THISDAYLIVE, September 14, 2026,