Agency says irrational drug use increases health risks, promotes resistance and threatens patient safety nationwide.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians against the misuse of medicines, stressing the need for safer drug practices to protect public health.
Speaking during a sensitisation programme in Mushin, Lagos, the Director of Pharmacovigilance at NAFDAC, Uchenna Elemuwa, said self-medication, wrong dosage, antibiotic abuse and the use of counterfeit drugs remain major health concerns.
Elemuwa, who represented the Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said improper use of medicines can lead to treatment failure, adverse reactions, prolonged illness and avoidable deaths.
She also raised concerns over antimicrobial resistance, noting that the misuse and overuse of antibiotics are making some infections more difficult and expensive to treat.
The NAFDAC official urged Nigerians and healthcare professionals to report adverse drug reactions and embrace responsible medicine use.
“Medicines are meant to heal, not harm,” she said, calling for collective efforts from doctors, pharmacists, nurses and patients to improve medication safety.
The Executive Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Tunbosun Aruwe, said the programme would help promote healthcare awareness and encourage safer medicine practices within communities.
He commended NAFDAC’s efforts in protecting public health and pledged continued support for initiatives aimed at improving patient safety.