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The Samuel Olutuyi Foundation (SOF) has launched a nationwide awareness campaign to combat the proliferation of counterfeit medicines and illicit alcoholic beverages, which it describes as “one of Nigeria’s most urgent and deadly health crises.” 

The initiative, being implemented under the SOF Community Health Programme, seeks to safeguard public health, empower communities through education, and advocate for stronger institutional and policy interventions to curb the menace, according to a statement sent to Financial Nigeria by the foundation.

“Fake drugs and counterfeit beverages pose a serious threat to our society,” said Olajide Olutuyi, Executive Director of SOF. “While medical-related grant requests are not typically within our core operational focus, we believe every life matters as we continue to respond to these requests as best as we can. As an organisation working in Nigeria, it is impossible to completely separate our mission from supporting critical health interventions when lives are at stake.”

According to data from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), an estimated 16.7 percent of medicines circulating in Nigeria are either fake or substandard. However, independent pharmaceutical experts suggest that the true figure could be closer to 50 percent, especially in rural communities and unregulated markets where oversight is weak.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that substandard or falsified medicines are responsible for nearly 500,000 deaths annually across sub-Saharan Africa, many of them children and vulnerable patients relying on life-saving treatments such as antimalarials and antibiotics.

Nigeria has seen a disturbing rise in methanol poisoning linked to the consumption of fake or illicit alcoholic beverages, SOF said in the statement. Methanol, a toxic form of alcohol often used in industrial products, is sometimes mixed into counterfeit drinks to cut costs. The results are often fatal. In October 2025, the UK Foreign Office issued an updated travel advisory warning British citizens of deaths and serious illnesses linked to methanol-contaminated alcohol in Nigeria, underscoring the international concern about this escalating public health issue.

Beyond the staggering death toll, the counterfeit product crisis has far-reaching social and economic consequences, said SOF, adding that ineffective or toxic medicines cause treatment failure, chronic illness, or death, while methanol-tainted drinks can lead to permanent blindness or acute organ failure.

Amina Yusuf, a pharmacologist, emphasised that beyond enforcement, community education must play a central role in curbing these threats to public health. She told SOF: “Fake drugs not only kill but erode trust in the healthcare system. Community education is critical. Nigerians must learn to identify authentic products and understand the dangers of self-medication and unverified sources.”

Tunde Akinsanya, a regulatory analyst, added: “Counterfeit alcohol is a silent killer. Only coordinated government action, supported by strong legal deterrents and public vigilance, can curb this menace.”

Through its nationwide campaign, SOF said it is taking a proactive, structured approach to reversing this deadly trend. Olutuyi told Financial Nigeria that a three-pronged strategy of the foundation includes public awareness drives, government and policy advocacy, and community health integration programmes.

Under its public awareness programme, SOF is hosting sensitisation workshops, community dialogues, and media campaigns across Nigeria, particularly targeting rural areas where counterfeit goods are most prevalent, teaching consumers how to spot fake packaging, verify NAFDAC registration numbers, and report suspicious products.

As part of its advocacy, SOF has called for stronger penalties for counterfeiters, improved border surveillance, and closer collaboration between NAFDAC, Nigeria Customs Service, and law enforcement agencies. The foundation is also urging the creation of specialised task forces to monitor the production and sale of high-risk goods.

The SOF said its community health integration efforts are embedded in its broader health mission, combining education with preventive care and community empowerment, leveraging local partnerships to ensure lasting impact and behavioural change.

“This is more than just a project,” Olutuyi told Financial Nigeria. “It’s central to our national health and safety. Every Nigerian deserves the assurance that the medicine they buy or the drink they consume won’t cost them their life.”

The SOF has called for “a whole-of-society response” involving citizens, regulators, healthcare professionals, and private sector partners to address the crisis.

Olutuyi warns that, “If left unchecked, the ‘death industry’ of counterfeit medicines and illicit alcohol will continue to ravage communities, undermine our healthcare systems, and rob Nigerians of lives and hope.”

He called for urgent action, saying “The time for action is now.”