Stakeholders in a group photograph with NAFDAC officials during a Pharmacovigilance Workshop and Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting in Enugu.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned over the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and adverse drug reactions (ADR), saying misuse and overuse of medicines is weakening treatment effectiveness in Nigeria.

Antimicrobials are medicines used to prevent and treat infections caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, gave the warning at a one-day Pharmacovigilance Workshop and Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting in Enugu. 

She was represented by the agency’s Director in the South-East Zone, Dr Festus Ukadike.

She said antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious consequences of irrational use of medicines.

“The misuse and overuse of antibiotics have accelerated the emergence of resistant microorganisms that no longer respond to conventional treatment,” she said.

Adeyeye warned that common infections are becoming harder and more expensive to treat.

“If urgent action is not taken, antimicrobial resistance may reverse decades of medical progress and place humanity at serious risk,” she said.

She explained that pharmacovigilance is key to ensuring drug safety after approval and distribution.

“Pharmacovigilance refers to the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or any other medicine-related problems,” she said.

“It helps ensure that medicines remain safe and effective even after they have been released into the market.”

She added that timely reporting of adverse reactions helps protect public health.

“Through effective pharmacovigilance systems, healthcare professionals and patients can identify harmful reactions early, report them appropriately, and help regulatory authorities take necessary actions,” she said.

Adeyeye called for stronger stakeholder participation in monitoring and reporting AMR and ADR cases.

The Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, commended the initiative but urged stronger action against fake medicines in rural communities.

“We see our people die due to their activities,” he said, referring to counterfeit drug peddlers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) State Coordinator, Dr Adaeze Ugwu, pledged continued support for efforts to strengthen drug safety and healthcare systems.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED), Dr Oliver Ezemba, urged Nigerians to report suspected drug reactions and unsafe medicines.

Participants at the workshop pledged to use the NAFDAC Med Safety mobile application to report adverse drug reactions.