Pharmaceutical Insecurity Constitutes a National Security Threat, PSN Declares

​AWKA — The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has issued a stern call to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate declaration of pharmaceutical insecurity as a national security emergency. The professional body warned that unchecked drug diversion, illicit trafficking, and the proliferation of counterfeit medicines are actively fueling organized crime and threatening public health nationwide.

​Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Society’s 99th yearly national conference—tagged “Ijele 2026” and themed “One Health, One Pharmacy: Bridging Knowledge, Practice and Policy for National Impact” at the International Convention Centre in Awka, Anambra State, PSN President Ayuba Tanko insisted that the government must maintain strict, uncompromised control over the national medicine supply chain.

​Rejection of Private-Led Procurement

​A central point of contention raised during the conference was the Federal Government’s approval of Medipool as a National Group Purchasing Organisation in May 2025. While acknowledging that pooled purchasing could theoretically reduce medicine costs, prevent stock-outs, and improve transparency, Tanko expressed grave reservations regarding its structural legality and public health implications.

​The PSN strongly opposed handing over the entire drug supply chain of public health facilities to a private entity. Tanko cautioned that involving private commercial interests in the drug-utilisation chain weakens vital regulatory oversight and undermines collaboration between the government, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

​To permanently insulate the health sector against vulnerabilities, the Society renewed its push for the statutory establishment of a Federal Drug Management Agency operating strictly within a public sector framework.

​State and Federal Collaboration

​Declaring the six-day national conference open, Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo highlighted the state’s position as a major pharmaceutical hub and underscored the existential threat posed by fake and adulterated drugs.

ADVERTISEMENT

​Soludo called for an aggressive, unified front against quackery and unwholesome practices, specifically urging licensed pharmacists to stop shielding unqualified drug dealers through professional certification. He outlined ongoing regional infrastructure developments, noting that the administration’s new pharmaceutical hub in Oba, Idemili South Local Council, alongside a dedicated Coordinated Wholesale Centre, remains on track for completion early next year.

​Echoing these sentiments, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to inter-professional collaboration. Pate stressed the imperative of localizing the pharmaceutical value chain—spanning domestic research, raw material sourcing, local manufacturing, strict quality assurance, and streamlined distribution—to bolster self-sufficiency and secure affordable access to medicines for all Nigerians.