Lagos, Nigeria: Amid growing concerns over Nigeria’s rising diabetes rates, a senior pharmacist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Mr Joshua Akindele, has warned that self-medication and the use of uncertified drugs are fueling the surge.
Akindele, who works with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), gave the warning in an interview with journalists on Wednesday in Lagos.
He said that while medications were vital to treatment, misuse or abuse, especially without proper medical guidance, could lead to serious harm, including chronic illnesses like Diabetes Mellitus.
Akindele said the likelihood of pharmacotherapy misuse remained high, noting that many Nigerians self-medicate without understanding possible side effects or long-term health consequences.
He highlighted self-medication as a significant contributing factor to the growing diabetes burden in Nigeria, in addition to hereditary factors and poor drug regulation.
The pharmacist advised Nigerians to eliminate the practice and to consult licensed medical professionals for diagnosis and prescriptions, rather than relying on peer recommendations or over-the-counter access.
He emphasised that only certified healthcare providers in registered hospitals could provide safe and appropriate drug prescriptions for illness management and long-term wellbeing.
Citing the World Health Organisation (WHO), Akindele said self-medication caused nearly 50 per cent of all preventable harm in healthcare settings globally and often led to worsened medical conditions.
He added that global data showed medication errors contributed to more than three million deaths annually, underlining the need for responsible pharmaceutical practices.
He warned that poor regulation of food and drug products in Nigeria was compounding the problem, making the population vulnerable to chronic diseases like diabetes.
“In Nigeria, various drinks, noodles, and other consumables are in circulation without adequate safety checks or regulatory approval,” Akindele said, calling for stronger oversight.
He explained that beyond genetics, the growing diabetes crisis in Nigeria was fueled by self-medication, unregulated product consumption, and a cultural habit of informal drug-sharing among individuals.
“An average Nigerian recommends drugs to a friend, colleague, or relative without any professional diagnosis, even affecting unborn children, growing kids, and adults,” he said.
Akindele warned that such habits damaged vital organs responsible for metabolism, accelerating early organ failure, with diabetes being one of the long-term consequences.
He called for nationwide public sensitisation campaigns to educate people on the dangers of self-medication and the importance of professional healthcare guidance.
“Inappropriate drug use can be toxic and reduce a medicine’s therapeutic value, leading to drug resistance, treatment failure, or serious adverse effects,” he cautioned.
