Nigeria has filed a lawsuit for $US7 billion ($8.4 billion) in damages from Pfizer over a drug test in which about 200 children were either killed or deformed, court officials in Abuja said.

The Federal Government suit says the children suffered various degrees of adverse effects ranging from deafness to muteness, paralysis, brain damage, loss of sight, slurred speech, while 11 died.

The federal action follows a similar suit filed last month by Kano, Nigeria's largest state, which is seeking $US2.75 billion from the pharmaceutical giant.