The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised concerns about threats to her life and the safety of the agency’s staff, urging authorities to provide protection as they carry out their duties in dangerous conditions.
She also called for the death penalty for individuals involved in the production and distribution of fake and counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.
Speaking at a State House briefing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, Prof. Adeyeye revealed that NAFDAC had recently seized illicit drugs worth over N1 trillion in an ongoing crackdown on substandard pharmaceutical products.
Read Also: FG Takes Action As Multichoice Hikes DStv, GOtv Prices
According to her, the agency’s intensified enforcement efforts led to the confiscation of 87 truckloads of banned, expired, and substandard medical products.
Among the seized items were USAID- and UNFPA-donated antiretroviral drugs, male and female condoms, and other compromised medical supplies.
She described the large-scale operation, which targeted Nigeria’s three major open drug markets, as the biggest in NAFDAC’s history. The markets included:
– Ariaria and Eziukwu Markets in Aba, Abia State
– Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, Anambra State
– Idumota Drug Market in Lagos State
Prof. Adeyeye estimated the seized goods to be worth at least N1 trillion, though further evaluations could reveal an even higher value.
She also recounted instances where NAFDAC staff had faced abduction attempts and physical threats due to their work.
“I mentioned an attempted murder about six months ago. One of our staff members in Kano had his child kidnapped because he was doing his job. Fortunately, the child escaped,” she disclosed.
“For my safety, I have two policemen stationed at my house 24/7 in both Abuja and Lagos. I don’t have a normal life anymore. I can’t go anywhere without police escorts. That’s not how I like to live, but I have no choice because we must save our country. Still, I try to be cautious.”
The threats faced by Prof. Adeyeye are similar to those encountered by former NAFDAC DG Prof. Dora Akunyili, who led the agency from 2001 to 2009. Akunyili’s relentless fight against counterfeit drugs, motivated by the death of her sister due to fake insulin, made her a target of drug cartels, leading to numerous threats and an assassination attempt in 2003.
Despite the dangers, Prof. Adeyeye remains committed to eradicating counterfeit drugs. She stressed the need for stricter penalties, including the death sentence, for those endangering lives through fake pharmaceuticals.
She urged the Nigerian government to strengthen laws to combat the deadly trade in counterfeit medicines.
NAFDAC continues to ramp up enforcement nationwide, aiming to safeguard public health and restore trust in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector.
Join Informant Online WhatsApp Channel With Link Below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2Z
