Source: Chioma Obinna

DRUGS

The sun beat down relentlessly over Oshodi market in Lagos as a young mother clutched a bottle of antibiotics, worry etched on her face. With her sick child’s prescription in one hand and only a few naira in the other, she wondered: Would this medicine help—or harm?

This isn’t just a story of poverty or health inequality. It’s a growing crisis threatening the lives of millions across Nigeria: essential medicines becoming toxic due to poor storage and unregulated distribution.

From Lagos to Maiduguri, open markets overflow with trays of pills and syrups exposed to extreme heat, dust, and humidity. While these medicines are meant to heal, experts warn that many of them may already be degraded—ineffective at best, poisonous at worst.

The Hidden Dangers of Heat and Humidity

“Drugs are not just any commodity,” warned Dr. Taiwo Filusi, Zonal Director of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) in Lagos. “Some medications require strict cold-chain storage—especially vaccines. If they’re not kept properly, they lose their potency. Worse still, they can become toxic.”

Nigeria’s tropical climate—with its intense heat and humidity—accelerates the degradation of drug ingredients. Filusi revealed that in improper conditions, some drugs can deteriorate in just six months, leading not only to treatment failures but also serious health complications.

Humidity, he explained, can cause pills to crumble, syrups to separate, and even promote bacterial growth inside drug containers.

A Crisis Made Worse by Drug Hawking

Despite repeated warnings, street drug vendors—many untrained or semi-literate—remain a common sight in Nigeria. These hawkers sell medications from their bare hands or makeshift stalls, with drugs laid out in direct sunlight or stuffed in plastic bags.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) describes such vendors as “merchants of death.”

According to NAFDAC, “Most of the drugs sold by hawkers are counterfeit, expired, or substandard. Exposure to weather degrades active ingredients, turning essential medicines into dangerous toxins.”

Worse still, these transactions eliminate any form of professional guidance. People self-medicate without prescriptions, increasing the risk of misdiagnosis, overdose, or adverse reactions.

Drug Resistance and Treatment Failure

Pharmacists are now sounding the alarm over another looming threat: antibiotic resistance.

When patients unknowingly take degraded or sub-potent antibiotics, bacteria aren’t fully eliminated. This creates stronger, drug-resistant strains that make future infections harder—and more expensive—to treat.

“Climate change is only making the problem worse,” said Pharm. Jonah Okotie, former National Secretary of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria. “Rising temperatures and poor infrastructure make proper drug storage increasingly difficult.”

Regulatory Crackdown—But Is It Enough?

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) recently sealed 67 drug outlets in Lagos for violations ranging from poor storage to operating without licenses. While these actions are necessary, experts believe they are not enough to contain a widespread public health threat.

NAFDAC and PCN are calling for:

• Stronger regulation of the pharmaceutical supply chain
• Enforcement of licensed pharmacy standards
• Crackdown on drug hawking across markets and streets
• Public education on the dangers of buying unregulated drugs
• Investments in cold-chain and climate-adapted storage solutions

The Way Forward: Protecting Lives with Safe Medicines

Every Nigerian deserves access to safe, effective, and professionally dispensed medicine. But until unregulated sales and poor storage are addressed nationwide, the health of millions remains at risk.

In a country where many cannot afford hospital visits, confidence in over-the-counter medication must be rebuilt—not compromised.