NAFDAC DG Raises Alarm Over Threats to Life

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised a serious concern over the threats to her life and the safety of agency staff while carrying out their duties. She called for stronger protection from authorities as they face hazardous conditions in their line of work.

At a State House briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, Prof. Adeyeye revealed that NAFDAC had recently seized counterfeit drugs worth over N1 trillion in an ongoing crackdown against substandard pharmaceutical products.

She highlighted that the intensified enforcement efforts had led to the confiscation of 87 truckloads of banned, expired, and substandard medical items, including USAID- and UNFPA-donated antiretroviral drugs, male and female condoms, and other medical supplies.

The operation, which targeted Nigeria’s three major open drug markets—Ariaria and Eziukwu Markets in Aba, Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, and Idumota Drug Market in Lagos—was described as the largest in NAFDAC’s history. Prof. Adeyeye estimated the value of the seized goods to be at least N1 trillion, though further assessments could increase the figure.

She also recounted disturbing incidents of threats to NAFDAC staff, including an attempted murder and a kidnapping incident where a staff member’s child was abducted in Kano. The child later escaped.

“I told you about the 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 revealed.

Prof. Adeyeye, who is heavily guarded by police officers, noted that she couldn’t move freely without security escorts. She said,

“For me, I have two policemen living in my house 24/7 in Abuja and Lagos. I don’t have a life. I can’t go anywhere without police escorts. That’s not my way of living, but I don’t have a choice because we must save our country. Nonetheless, I also use common sense.”

The NAFDAC boss further advocated for the death penalty for those involved in the production and sale of fake and counterfeit drugs in Nigeria, emphasizing the seriousness of the issue and the need for stronger deterrents.