“To Fix Nigeria’s Fractured Supply Chain, FG Must Sanitise the System, Eliminate Unregulated Players” — Afon
In an era where Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain is increasingly undermined by counterfeit drugs, regulatory overlap, and market fragmentation, few voices resonate with more credibility and clarity than that of Pharm. Adebayo Afon.
A seasoned pharmacist and serial entrepreneur, Afon is the Managing Director of Safco Mega Solutions Limited, founder of Afonchies Pharmaceuticals, and currently serves as Chairman of the Events and Investment Committee of the Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (PWDAN).
With over two decades of experience spanning community practice, wholesale distribution, and pharmaceutical advocacy, Afon has remained a leading voice in the call for regulatory reforms, supply chain integrity, and digitisation of Nigeria’s chaotic drug distribution system.
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In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, he dissects the pressing challenges facing pharmaceutical wholesalers, from the stalled implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG) to the impact of unregulated players and the urgent need for professionalisation and digital transformation.
Excerpts:
What are the most pressing challenges currently facing pharmaceutical wholesalers in Nigeria, particularly in navigating regulatory and supply chain complexities?
Pharmaceutical wholesalers in Nigeria face a myriad of challenges, with regulatory uncertainty and supply chain fragmentation at the forefront. The regulatory environment involves multiple agencies, including PCN, NAFDAC, and state-level authorities, with overlapping mandates. This often results in inconsistent enforcement, bureaucratic delays, and unclear expectations for compliance.
Infrastructural deficits—such as poor road networks, erratic power supply, and inadequate storage—raise operational costs and risks. The supply chain is highly fragmented, with informal players and parallel markets disrupting the activities of compliant wholesalers. Currency fluctuations and forex scarcity also compound the challenges, making stable planning nearly impossible.
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How has the delay in fully implementing the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG) affected the operations and growth of compliant wholesalers?
The delay has left the distribution ecosystem in chaos. Those of us who have invested heavily in regulatory compliance—warehousing, digital tools, trained staff—are placed at a disadvantage against informal operators who face little or no regulation.
This discourages further investment and innovation. Without a unified and enforced distribution system, issues like traceability and product recall become difficult. This environment allows substandard and counterfeit drugs to thrive, undermining public trust and discouraging professionalism.
Counterfeit drugs and parallel importation continue to undermine the credibility of genuine wholesalers. What strategic solutions do you believe can effectively curb these issues?
We need a multi-pronged strategy. Stronger regulatory enforcement is essential—offenders must face real consequences. Technologies like serialisation, QR codes, and digital tracking systems should be made mandatory to authenticate products across the value chain.
Also, regulatory bodies, law enforcement, and stakeholders need better collaboration for intelligence sharing and joint market sweeps. Public awareness campaigns are equally vital to educate consumers and healthcare professionals on the risks of counterfeit drugs and the importance of sourcing from licensed wholesalers. The government must also streamline legitimate importation processes to reduce the appeal of parallel imports.
Logistics and last-mile delivery remain major hurdles. How does your company manage these challenges, especially in hard-to-reach areas?
At Safco Mega Solutions, we deploy temperature-controlled vehicles, real-time tracking, and route optimisation technologies. In rural areas, we partner with community pharmacies and local logistics operators to deepen our reach.
We also regularly train logistics personnel on pharmaceutical handling protocols. In areas with difficult terrain, we adopt bulk scheduling or use mobile storage solutions. Our goal is simple: ensure consistent access to quality medicines, even in the remotest parts of Nigeria.
Fragmentation in the supply chain often leads to price instability and product unavailability. What steps can wholesalers take collectively to ensure a more predictable and stable system?
Collaboration is key. Wholesalers should form cooperatives or alliances to pool resources, standardise pricing, and strengthen negotiating power with manufacturers. Sharing inventory data will improve demand forecasting and reduce both shortages and overstocking.
PWDAN can be the platform to drive these initiatives—policy advocacy, peer learning, and system-wide adoption of digital tools. If we collectively push for full NDDG implementation, we can create a transparent, regulated environment where medicine availability and pricing are far more predictable.
The shift toward digital health and automation is reshaping global pharmaceutical logistics. How ready are Nigerian wholesalers for this transformation?
Some wholesalers are beginning to adopt automation and digital tools—inventory software, e-commerce platforms, and customer management systems—but there’s still a long way to go.
Challenges include high upfront costs, limited digital literacy, and poor infrastructure (especially power and internet). We need capacity-building initiatives, government-backed incentives, and an industry-wide digital strategy. As the benefits become more obvious—efficiency, traceability, lower error rates—more players will come on board.
PWDAN has consistently advocated for sanitising the distribution space. In your view, what more can be done to professionalise wholesale practice in Nigeria?
Mandatory certification and continuous professional development for wholesalers should be a regulatory priority. A central, publicly accessible database of licensed wholesalers will also promote transparency.
There must be routine audits, clear sanctions for non-compliance, and incentive-driven mentorship and peer-review systems. PWDAN can partner with PCN and NAFDAC to implement these. Raising ethical standards and promoting accountability will significantly improve the quality and professionalism of pharmaceutical wholesale practice.
Looking ahead, what reforms would you like to see from PCN, NAFDAC, or the Ministry of Health to support ethical and sustainable pharmaceutical distribution?
The NDDG must be fully and uncompromisingly implemented. That’s foundational. Beyond that, we need mandatory digital tracking systems for pharmaceutical products to curb counterfeiting.
The government should provide incentives like tax waivers or grants to wholesalers investing in compliant infrastructure, especially in underserved zones. Regular stakeholder engagement must be prioritised, and enforcement must be proactive, with real protection for whistleblowers. These steps are essential for building an ethical, traceable, and sustainable pharmaceutical supply chain in Nigeria