In nearly every sector of Nigeria’s economy today, from medicine to engineering, construction, law, and even education, the scourge of quackery is eroding public trust, endangering lives, and undermining professional standards. From fake building contractors to unlicensed herbalists and fraudulent financial advisors, quacks have found fertile ground in Nigeria’s under-regulated and enforcement-weak business landscape.
This crisis is not just about incompetence. It is about the failure of regulatory systems, a culture of impunity, and the lack of political will to enforce existing standards. If Nigeria is serious about building a sustainable and investor-friendly economy, it must confront the menace of quackery with renewed urgency by strengthening policies and, crucially, enforcing mechanisms that ensure compliance.
Consider the frequent collapse of buildings in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, Nigeria’s megacities. Investigations by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) often trace such tragedies to unqualified contractors and engineers. In 2021 alone, over 500 buildings were marked for demolition in Lagos due to structural defects linked to unlicensed or untrained builders.
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In the medical sector, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) continues to decry the proliferation of unregistered clinics and self-proclaimed doctors, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. In March 2023, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) arrested several fake practitioners in Kogi, Anambra, and Oyo states. Yet, for every one caught, many more operate unchecked, exposing patients to life-threatening risks.
In education, many private mushroom schools and tutorial centres operate without accreditation, delivering substandard instruction and collecting unregulated fees. In 2022, the Federal Government shut down 76 illegal universities. Yet many still advertise openly online or operate through satellite campuses with no formal approval.
These examples are not just about professional integrity; they are about public safety, national reputation, and economic productivity.
“If Nigeria is serious about building a sustainable and investor-friendly economy, it must confront the menace of quackery with renewed urgency by strengthening policies and, crucially, enforcing mechanisms that ensure compliance.”
The persistence of quackery in Nigeria stems from a mix of weak institutional enforcement, outdated regulations, and a societal tolerance for mediocrity. Many regulatory agencies operate without adequate funding, staff, or modern tools. In some cases, officials are complicit, issuing licenses without due diligence or turning a blind eye for personal gain.
More critically, penalties for quackery are often too light to deter offenders. A fake doctor who endangers lives may be fined N100,000 or jailed for six months, if prosecuted at all. Meanwhile, many Nigerians, desperate for cheaper alternatives or unaware of the risks, continue to patronise quacks.
As examples abound in the country, Nigeria must move toward fully digitised, transparent verification systems. The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has launched an online verification portal for certified engineers. The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has a similar portal to check licensed practitioners. These tools must be made public-friendly, integrated across states, and aggressively promoted.
Imagine a mobile app where any Nigerian can confirm a builder’s, doctor’s, or teacher’s license instantly. Government must invest in these platforms and legislate the mandatory display of registration numbers by service providers.
Agencies like NAFDAC, SON, MDCN, COREN, and others need better funding, staffing, and independence. For instance, NAFDAC has made notable progress under Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, with crackdowns on fake drugs and unapproved herbal remedies. But field operations are still thin in rural areas.
A model can be drawn from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), which has undergone reform to digitise company registration, making it easier to verify genuine businesses. Expanding this reform code to sectoral regulators can improve trust and compliance.
No single agency can monitor quackery alone. Lagos State has taken a proactive approach by setting up inter-agency task forces on building compliance, involving the Ministry of Physical Planning, LASBCA, and police. Other states should replicate such joint enforcement teams to cover healthcare, education, and construction.
Additionally, professional associations must play a stronger role. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), NMA, Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), and Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) must routinely publish and update blacklists of offenders and collaborate with regulators to report abuse.
The National Assembly should review outdated penalty laws. The Medical and Dental Practitioners Act and other regulatory laws need stiffer punishments for impersonation, malpractice, and operating without a license, including asset forfeiture and naming and shaming.
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States should also pass or enforce enabling laws. In 2023, the Kaduna State government passed stricter licensing requirements for private schools, mandating minimum facilities, curriculum standards, and background checks for proprietors.
Ultimately, Nigerians must be their own watchdogs. Public education campaigns via television, social media, markets, and religious institutions should promote the message: No license, no service. If citizens demand credentials before patronising businesses, quackery will lose its appeal.
The Consumers Protection Council (FCCPC) should amplify its outreach, helping Nigerians know their rights and where to report violations. Tech-driven whistleblower channels can encourage anonymous tips and quick responses.
Nigeria cannot build a strong, resilient economy with fake builders, doctors, teachers, and consultants running loose. Quackery is not only a personal fraud, it is a national setback. To check it, we must strengthen policies, digitise enforcement, empower regulators, and hold both practitioners and the public accountable.
The path forward is clear: build trust, build competence, and build a nation where standards matter—because when integrity is enforced, prosperity follows.
