In Nigeria, where the cost of healthcare continues to rise and essential drugs are becoming scarce, many citizens are turning to social media for cheaper alternatives.
But what looks like an easy solution has quickly turned into a public health disaster. Patients are losing their sight, suffering kidney damage, collapsing from strokes, and even dying after taking fake or unregulated drugs sold online.
From Instagram to WhatsApp and Facebook, the online space has become a giant, unregulated pharmacy where medications are advertised and delivered without any medical supervision. Medicines for common problems like red eyes, diabetes, hypertension, infertility, and ulcers are pushed as miracle cures. With just a few clicks, patients can buy drugs without prescription, diagnosis, or professional guidance. What started as a convenient option has now grown into a silent epidemic spreading across the country.
Every day, Nigerians are bombarded with adverts for herbal teas, weight-loss pills, eye drops, anti-hypertensives, and even cancer remedies, often backed by fake testimonials. These products promise quick fixes but leave behind health complications that in many cases cannot be reversed. Medical experts warn that many of these drugs contain steroids, caffeine, diuretics, and other harmful chemicals that damage the body when used without control.
The experiences of patients show how deadly the problem has become. Amaka, a 23-year-old student, lost her vision after using steroid-based eye drops she ordered on Instagram. Victor and Chinyere spent thousands of naira on herbal products marketed as eye treatments but saw no improvement. Joana, a trader in Lagos, collapsed after replacing her prescribed blood pressure drugs with a herbal mixture she bought online. Temitope, a civil servant, ended up with kidney damage after using detox teas advertised by influencers. Chinedu, a young gym enthusiast, died after consuming energy boosters sold in a WhatsApp group. Older Nigerians like Mama Biodun have also fallen victim, abandoning prescribed treatments for unverified TikTok remedies, only to end up in emergency care.
Doctors, pharmacists, and regulators warn that self-medication is fueling a dangerous trend. They explain that without proper tests, diagnosis, and prescriptions, patients risk worsening their conditions or creating new ones. Eye doctors report cases of blindness linked to counterfeit drops, while cardiologists see stroke and heart failure in patients who stopped their medications for fake herbal cures.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) admits that monitoring online drug sales has become a major challenge. The agency has been shutting down unregistered vendors, issuing fines, and introducing tools like the Scan2Verify system and the Green Book directory to help consumers check authenticity. Yet, the fast rise of small vendors on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok makes enforcement difficult.
Pharmacists argue that bypassing hospitals and pharmacies makes Nigerians vulnerable to drug interactions and harmful side effects. The Nigerian Medical Association has called the trend both illegal and life-threatening, insisting that those behind it must face prosecution. Experts say Nigeria needs stronger policies to regulate online drug sales, with a focus on ensuring only licensed pharmacies operate digitally.
For now, social media remains a marketplace where hope is sold cheaply, but health is the price. Without urgent action, more Nigerians risk paying with their sight, their organs, or even their lives for drugs bought with a simple click.