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Nigeria’s new e-pharmacy rules protect digital health sector, Minister says
Nigeria is moving to safeguard its fast-growing digital health sector with the introduction of new e-pharmacy regulations, to tighten oversight of online medicine distribution and protect patients in an increasingly digitised healthcare environment.
Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, says the Federal Government launched the 2026 Electronic Pharmacy (e-pharmacy) Regulations, establishing a comprehensive framework to guide digital pharmacy operations across the country. The rules cover key areas including licensing and registration, prescription management, medicine supply and quality assurance, data privacy and security, monitoring and compliance, as well as consumer protection.
The policy marks a significant step in formalising Nigeria’s online pharmacy ecosystem, which has expanded rapidly alongside the growth of e-commerce, telemedicine and health technology platforms, according to the minister.
The policy marks a significant step in formalising Nigeria’s online pharmacy ecosystem, which has expanded rapidly alongside the growth of e-commerce, telemedicine and health technology platforms, according to the minister.
e-Pharmacy: Government targets safer digital healthcare delivery
Pate says the regulations are part of broader efforts to integrate digital technologies into healthcare delivery.
“At the heart of these Regulations is a clear vision to establish a safe, accessible, and fully regulated national e-pharmacy ecosystem that leverages digital technology to improve health outcomes,” he says at the launch in Abuja.
He adds that the framework is expected to improve access to medicines while supporting the country’s drive toward Universal Health Coverage.
The minister also issues a warning to operators exploiting gaps in the digital health space, stating that regulatory authorities are prepared to act against those distributing substandard or falsified medicines.
Data-driven oversight and traceability
A central feature of the new framework is its emphasis on data-driven healthcare delivery. By digitising prescription workflows and medicine distribution systems, regulators aim to improve traceability across the pharmaceutical value chain.
The approach is expected to strengthen monitoring capabilities, support evidence-based decision-making and enhance public health outcomes, while also creating a more structured environment for innovation and private-sector participation.
Implementation of the regulations is being led by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), the statutory body responsible for regulating pharmacy practice under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act 2022.
According to Ibrahim Ahmed, the framework responds to changing patient behaviour in a digital-first environment and is designed to ensure that ethical standards are maintained across online and offline pharmacy operations.
The regulations, he says, were developed through consultations with stakeholders, including technology providers, healthcare professionals and legal experts, to balance accessibility with safety and accountability.
Implications for health-tech ecosystem
The introduction of the e-pharmacy rules is expected to reshape Nigeria’s digital health landscape, particularly for startups and platforms operating in the online medicine distribution space.
Under the new framework, operators will be required to obtain licences and comply with defined standards, effectively tightening oversight across the sector. The regulations are also expected to influence pharmaceutical e-commerce models, strengthen data privacy and cybersecurity requirements, and drive investment into compliant digital health infrastructure.
The policy builds on earlier reforms, including the National Electronic Pharmacy Policy introduced in 2025, and reflects lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated the adoption of digital tools in healthcare while exposing gaps in regulatory oversight.
As Nigeria deepens the integration of technology into healthcare delivery, the new e-pharmacy regulations signal a shift toward a more structured and regulated digital health ecosystem, with patient safety and system accountability at its core.
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The Renewed Hope Youth Engagement (RHYE), Plateau State Chapter, on Friday, November 13, 2026, held an educational empowerment programme in Jos, Plateau State, with the distribution of free laptops to deserving students across tertiary institutions in the state.
The initiative, held at Tamarald Event Centre, Jos, was organised in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the vision of Renewed Hope Youth Movement . It is aimed at promoting digital inclusion, strengthening educational opportunities and equipping young Nigerians with the technological resources needed to excel in today’s increasingly digital society.
The event featured the presence of the Grand Patron of the Renewed Hope Youth Engagement initiative, Barr. Seyi Tinubu, who was accompanied by the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande Wisdom.
Other notable dignitaries included the Plateau State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Prince Miaphen; the Plateau State Coordinator of the City Boy Movement, Prince David Daser; the State Coordinator of Renewed Hope Youth Engagement, Mr. Manji Wilson; alongside other government officials, youth leaders, political stakeholders and students.
500 LAPTOPS TARGETED, 50 STUDENTS BENEFIT IN FIRST PHASE
A major highlight of the programme was the announcement of plans to distribute 500 laptops to deserving tertiary institution students across Plateau State.
Under the first phase of the initiative, 50 students drawn from various institutions received brand-new laptops to support their academic activities and digital learning.
Among the institutions represented were the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau State University (PLASU), Plateau State Polytechnic (PLAPOLY), College of Health Technology, Zawan, College of Health Technology, Pankshin, and other institutions.
According to the organisers, the beneficiaries were selected based on academic merit, particularly their Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), through a process facilitated by their respective institutions.
The laptops are expected to enhance students’ access to digital learning resources, academic research, assignments, online educational platforms and the acquisition of essential technological skills.
SEYI TINUBU VISITS GOVERNOR MUTFWANG, BARKIN LADI MEDICAL OUTREACH
Beyond the educational empowerment programme, Barr. Seyi Tinubu’s visit to Plateau State also featured other engagements.
Prior to the event in Jos, he visited a free medical outreach organised by the City Boy Movement in Barkin Ladi, where residents benefited from healthcare services.
He also paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, at the Government House, Jos.
The organisers expressed appreciation to the Plateau State Government and the TIME IS NOW administration for their support and cooperation towards the successful hosting of the programme.
JOS ENTERTAINMENT STARS ADD COLOUR TO THE EVENT
The programme also featured entertainment and musical performances, making the occasion a celebration of youth, education and talent.
Popular Nigerian rapper Ice Prince Zamani, alongside Jos-based entertainers including Classic and Seemo Da Black Czar, thrilled guests and participants with live performances.
The entertainment segment added excitement to the gathering, bringing together education, youth engagement and the creative industry on one platform.
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, the organisers emphasised that the laptop distribution goes beyond the provision of electronic devices, describing it as an investment in the future of young Nigerians.
For the beneficiaries, the laptops represent valuable tools that will improve their learning experiences, expand access to educational opportunities, encourage digital innovation and prepare them for a technology-driven world.
The event which was well coordinated by Renewed Hope Youth Engagement further highlights the importance of youth-focused initiatives in promoting education, innovation, digital inclusion and sustainable development.
With a target of reaching 500 students, the initiative is expected to extend its impact to more deserving students across Plateau State as subsequent phases of the programme unfold.
The November 13 engagement marks another major youth-focused activity in Plateau State, bringing together government, youth organisations, educational institutions and the creative community in support of the development and empowerment of young people.
A political analyst, Sam Amadi, has said presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, cannot effectively run a typical Nigerian political organisation because of his minimalist political approach and reluctance to distribute money.
Amadi said Obi's style of politics was fundamentally different from Nigeria's prevailing political culture, where politicians expect financial rewards and other benefits from their political associations.
He argued that some politicians who left Obi's camp were partly driven by what they expected from him but did not get.
Speaking on Arise Television's Prime Time programme on Friday, Amadi said Nigeria's political environment was unstable, with politicians frequently moving between political platforms in pursuit of personal interests.
According to him, some politicians who left Obi's camp had approached him to explain their grievances.
Amadi said their complaints reflected a fundamental disagreement between Obi's political philosophy and the expectations of politicians operating within Nigeria's political system.
The former Director-General of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, maintained that Obi understood his limitations in managing the country's conventional political structure.
He also described Obi as a minimalist who prefers a less elaborate approach to politics, arguing that the former Anambra State governor would rather pursue a straightforward path to political success than engage in the extensive political mobilisation associated with conventional Nigerian politics.
Amadi said: "Peter Obi represents a different kind of politician. Everything about him is often also exaggerated.
"Atiku ran for election with him as vice. The first thing he did after the election was to jump.
"First, Nigeria has a political market that's unstable. Yes. Most of these guys who left, they've come to me, and I talk to them, and they bring issues of grievance. And I say to these guys, look, I've served as Senate president. I've served Jonathan. I disagree with these people, but it's part of it.
"There's a political career. These guys want to move on. Secondly, they also want to have some things Peter cannot offer. That's a deep dissonance between Peter and Nigerian politics. People forget that. Yes, he doesn't give money.
"So Peter is not capable; Peter cannot run a typical Nigerian political organization. He knows that.
"Again, Peter is a minimalist, but it's business. He likes to, if he can, just sneak through this. He doesn't have to open the whole place."
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