The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria, has blacklisted 15 Indian pharmaceutical and trading firms for being responsible for fake medicines in circulation in the country.

According to informed sources in the industry NAFDAC has alleged that these Indian companies were persistently indulging in dumping of fake and counterfeit drugs. The sources however refused to name the companies but claimed that the names included two reputed companies, operating in Nigeria for over a decade.

Along with the 15 Indian companies, NAFDAC has also blacklisted four Chinese companies for the same reasons.

Officials estimate that more than 70 per cent of the drugs in circulation in Nigeria are fake and potentially dangerous and say they are stepping up efforts to find their distributors.