The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has announced the delisting of 101 drugs from circulation in Nigeria.

The agency stated that the affected products are no longer permitted for manufacturing, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale, or use in the country.

NAFDAC explained that some of the products were withdrawn voluntarily at the request of market authorisation holders, while others were suspended or outrightly cancelled by the agency.

The delisted products cut across a wide range of medicines and health items, including antimalarials, cough treatments, vaccines, insulin and growth-hormone injectables, diabetes medicines, inhalers, and eye drops.

Some widely used medicines on the list include Flagyl suspension and tablets, Penicillin G Sodium Sandoz, Artemether/Lumefantrine, and Elisca eye drops.

“This is to inform the general public that the following products are approved for withdrawal, suspension and cancellation by NAFDAC. They are therefore no longer permitted for manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale and use within Nigeria,” the statement reads.

The list of affected products includes Abacavir Sulfate/Lamivudine Dispersible Tablets, Amaryl M Tablets, Aprovasc 150mg/5mg Tablets, and ASAQ (Artesunate amodiaquine Winthrop) Tablets, among others.

These products were withdrawn voluntarily by their respective market authorisation holders, including Healthline Limited and Sanofi Aventis Nigeria Ltd.

NAFDAC stated that a suspension applies when the conditions under which a registration licence was issued are no longer met, while a cancellation occurs when the agency revokes a product’s licence. The agency’s action aims to ensure the safety and efficacy of medicines and health products in Nigeria.