The Senate proposed a 15-year prison sentence for drug traffickers

The Senate has proposed a 15-year prison sentence for drug hawkers in a bill that would ban selling and peddling drugs in unauthorized locations, including open markets, car parks, roadside kiosks, buses, ferries and unlicensed online platforms.

The proposed bill was passed for second discussion on Wednesday, and also seeks harsher penalties for violators involved in counterfeit medicines and unsafe food products.

The proposed Counterfeit Medical Products, Counterfeit Medicines and Unhealthy Processed Food (Prohibition and Control) Bill, 2026 (SB.951), sponsored by Senator representing Kwara North, Umar Suleiman, also provides for confiscation of assets, compensation for victims and stronger law enforcement powers for the Food and Drug Administration and Control Agency.

If passed into law, this bill would repeal the Fake and Counterfeit Drugs and Unhealthy Processed Foods Act, and replace it with a new legal framework designed to address emerging threats such as online illegal drug sales, cross-border trafficking, sophisticated counterfeiting techniques, and organized criminal networks.

While leading the debate, Suleiman said the current laws were not enough to tackle the proliferation of counterfeit drug operations.

According to him, the proposed law aims to protect Nigerians from preventable deaths and disabilities resulting from counterfeit medicines, while restoring confidence in the country’s healthcare system and its legitimate pharmaceutical industry.

He said, “This bill criminalizes the production, import, manufacture, transportation, distribution, sale, possession and facilitation of counterfeit medical products, counterfeit medicines and unhealthy processed foods.

“This regulation also prohibits the production or possession of counterfeit labels, wrappers, packaging materials, and equipment used in the manufacture of counterfeit products.”

In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio thanked the senators for their contributions, and said that concerns regarding the relationship between the proposed law and the NAFDAC Act would be addressed at the committee stage.

“Violators risk imprisonment of up to 15 years, heavy fines, compensation to victims or their families, sanctions against the corporate organization and its directors, as well as confiscation of assets related to the violation,” Akpabio said.

To strengthen law enforcement, the bill authorizes NAFDAC to implement modern product tracking technology, establish national and state law enforcement task forces, inspect facilities, seize counterfeit products, arrest suspects, seal locations and intensify surveillance at the country’s ports of entry.

The law also grants exclusive jurisdiction to the Federal High Court over offenses under the proposed law and provides for expedited trials to expedite prosecutions.

Suleiman described the bill as an important public health intervention that will protect consumers, safeguard legitimate businesses and align Nigeria’s anti-counterfeiting framework with international best practices.

The proposal received overwhelming support from senators, although some lawmakers called for clarity on its relationship to the existing NAFDAC Act