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Nigeria’s new e-pharmacy rules protect digital health sector, Minister says

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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.

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Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. Image credit: Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

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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Imo senatorial aspirant, Nwachukwu drags NDC to court over ticket denial  

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A Senatorial Aspirant, Isaac Nwachukwu, has dragged Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before a Federal High Court Sitting in Owerri, Imo State, over the fallout of the party’s National Assembly primaries.

Nwachukwu, in a suit filed through his Counsel, Cajethan Oguzie, accused the party of denying him the Imo North senatorial ticket after emerging a consensus candidate and paying N5m for the nomination form.

The suit also disclosed that Nwachukwu had paid N20m for the support of the party, but his support was unexplainably reduced to N10m when the list of those who supported the party was published.

The NDC Senatorial Aspirant, in his prayers before the court, demanded that a declaration should be made that he is the consensus candidate of the party in the state with regard to the Imo North Senatorial Zone in the 2027 General election.

“A declaration that the first defendant, NDC, be restrained from fielding another candidate except the plaintiff in the General election into the Imo North Senatorial Zone as he is the consensus candidate for the said election.

“A declaration that the second defendant, INEC, be perpetually restrained from recognising and accepting the candidacy of another person except the plaintiff in the Imo North Senatorial election pending the determination of the matter,” the suit stated.

In an affidavit supporting the originating summons, Nwachukwu stated that he purchased the expression of interest form to aspire for the position for Imo North senatorial zone, a copy of which is attached in the suit already filed.

The NDC Senatorial Aspirant added that upon the purchase of the form, he made a monetary contribution in support of the party’s growth in the tune of N20m into the party’s FCMB account number through his Counsel, receipt also attached in the suit as an exhibit.

“The first sign of irregularity and no compliance with the NDC constitution and electoral act came up when the N20m I paid for party support was allocated to one of the aspirants for my Senatorial District by the name Matthew Omegara, and the N10m that Matthew Omegara paid for party support was allocated to me by the Screening Committee headed by Sam Egwu and Buba Galadimma.

” In compliance with NDC’s directives, I participated in the NDC screening exercise and was successfully cleared as an aspirant to participate in the primary election.

After my consensus candidacy was ratified, my name was shortlisted as a Candidate for Imo North district. A copy of the result is hereby annexed as Exhibit 1U5,” the affidavit added.

Nwachukwu alleged that his name was substituted with Omegara after he had been declared the winner of the primary election.

The Imo North Senatorial Aspirant claimed that the National leader of the party, Seriake Dickson, had summoned him for a meeting telling him that his candidacy was affected after a party chieftain from his state said he didn’t know him.

Among other demands, Nwachukwu is asking the court to order NDC to issue him a certificate as its candidate for the Imo North Senatorial District.

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ADC raises alarm over alleged membership forgery in Zamfara

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Supporters and members of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Anka and Talata Mafara Local Government Areas of Zamfara State have alleged attempts to manipulate the party’s membership records and card numbers ahead of internal political activities.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Gusau by Nura Rabiu Cibiki, Director of Media and Strategy, Campaign and Mobilisation Committee for Abdulrahaman Yahaya, an aspirant for the House of Representatives seat representing Anka/Talata Mafara Federal Constituency.

The group warned against any attempt to alter or duplicate legitimate membership figures, saying such actions could deepen tensions within the party in the constituency.

“We strongly oppose any move to manipulate or duplicate legitimate membership figures, warning that such actions would only worsen existing tensions within the party and the Anka/Talata Mafara Federal Constituency,” the statement said.

The supporters maintained that ADC members in Anka and Talata Mafara were aware of the party’s authentic membership strength and were prepared to protect the integrity of the party’s records.

The statement added that while justice may be delayed, the truth could not be denied.

Meanwhile, Yahaya has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Gusau challenging alleged irregularities in the party’s primary election process in the constituency.

The court has fixed June 23, 2026, for mention of the case.

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