Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has expressed grave concern over threats to her life and the safety of her agency’s personnel, urging the government to ensure their protection as they confront dangerous conditions in the course of their duties.
She also called for the implementation of the death penalty for individuals involved in the manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, Prof. Adeyeye revealed that NAFDAC had recently seized counterfeit and substandard drugs worth over N1 trillion during an ongoing crackdown.
She shared that the agency’s intensified enforcement actions had led to the confiscation of 87 truckloads of illicit medical products, including antiretroviral drugs, condoms, and other medical supplies donated by USAID and UNFPA, which had been compromised.
This operation, which targeted Nigeria’s three largest open drug markets—Ariaria and Eziukwu in Aba (Abia State), Bridge Head in Onitsha (Anambra State), and Idumota in Lagos State—was described by the NAFDAC DG as the most extensive in the agency’s history. While she estimated the seized goods to be worth at least N1 trillion, further assessments might reveal a higher value.
Prof. Adeyeye recounted the personal risks faced by her staff, including attempted kidnappings and physical threats as a result of their work. She noted an incident in Kano where a staff member’s child was kidnapped, though fortunately, the child escaped.
“For my safety, I have two policemen assigned to me 24/7 in Abuja and Lagos. I can’t go anywhere without police escorts,” she said. “This is not the life I envisioned, but I have no choice. We must protect our nation, but I also use common sense in managing my safety.”
Prof. Adeyeye’s current challenges are reminiscent of those faced by her predecessor, Prof. Dora Akunyili, who led NAFDAC from 2001 to 2009 and became a target of drug cartels because of her fierce fight against counterfeit drugs. Prof. Akunyili’s determination was fueled by the tragic death of her sister from fake insulin, which propelled her campaigns against illicit drug markets and counterfeit medications, even drawing threats, including an assassination attempt in 2003.
Like Akunyili, Prof. Adeyeye remains steadfast in her mission to eliminate the fake drug trade despite the personal risks involved. She reiterated her call for stronger punitive measures, including the death penalty, for those involved in the dangerous and life-threatening counterfeit drug trade.
She also urged the Nigerian government to implement stronger laws to combat the counterfeit drug trade, emphasizing that NAFDAC’s enforcement actions would continue to ensure public health protection and restore confidence in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector.
