Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has raised alarms over threats to her life and the safety of her agency’s staff. She called on the government to provide protection as they continue their work in hazardous conditions.
Prof. Adeyeye also advocated for the death penalty for those involved in producing and selling counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.
In a briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, she revealed that NAFDAC had recently seized counterfeit and substandard drugs worth over N1 trillion as part of an ongoing effort to combat illegal pharmaceutical products.
The agency’s recent enforcement actions led to the seizure of 87 truckloads of expired, banned, and fake medical supplies, including antiretroviral drugs, condoms, and other health products donated by USAID and UNFPA.
Prof. Adeyeye described this operation, which targeted three major drug markets—Ariaria and Eziukwu markets in Aba (Abia State), Bridge Head market in Onitsha (Anambra State), and Idumota market in Lagos State—as the largest in NAFDAC’s history. While she estimated the value of the confiscated items at over N1 trillion, further assessments may push the figure higher.
The NAFDAC boss also highlighted the personal risks her staff face, revealing incidents of attempted kidnappings and threats due to their work. She recalled an incident six months ago in Kano, where a staff member’s child was kidnapped, though thankfully, the child was later released.
“For my safety, I have two policemen assigned to me round-the-clock in both Abuja and Lagos. I cannot go anywhere without police escorts. This is not the life I wanted, but I have no choice. We are committed to saving our country, though I use common sense in managing my security,” she said.
The challenges Prof. Adeyeye faces echo those experienced by her predecessor, Prof. Dora Akunyili, who led NAFDAC from 2001 to 2009 and became a target of drug cartels because of her relentless fight against counterfeit drugs. Akunyili’s efforts were driven by the tragic death of her sister from fake insulin, and her work led to the closure of illegal drug markets and the seizure of counterfeit medications, all while facing numerous threats, including an assassination attempt in 2003.
Like Akunyili, Prof. Adeyeye remains resolute in her mission to eliminate counterfeit drugs despite the personal dangers. She reiterated her call for stronger penalties, including the death penalty, for those engaged in the dangerous fake drug trade.
She urged the Nigerian government to implement tougher laws to curb the illegal drug market, reinforcing that NAFDAC’s enforcement actions would continue to safeguard public health and restore confidence in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry.
