Nigeria Senate advances anti‑counterfeit drug bill and criminal‑justice overhaul

The Nigerian Senate has moved forward on several key pieces of legislation. A bill to combat counterfeit medical products, fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods was passed for second reading, introducing penalties of up to 15 years’ imprisonment, heavy fines, asset forfeiture and mandatory compensation for victims. The legislation expands the powers of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), authorises modern product‑tracking technology and creates a multi‑agency task force to dismantle counterfeit‑medicine syndicates.

President Bola Tinubu has also transmitted the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2026 to the Senate, proposing to repeal the 2015 act and establish a Criminal Justice Monitoring Council to improve efficiency, transparency and speedy dispensation of justice in federal courts.

In addition, the Senate approved the Legal Practitioners Act Repeal and Re‑enactment Bill 2026 and the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Amendment Bill 2026, aiming to modernise regulation of the legal profession and create a dedicated agency for managing recovered assets from unlawful activities.