Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has raised alarming concerns regarding threats to her life and the safety of the agency’s officials in their critical fight against counterfeit drugs.
Adeyeye made this announcement at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, providing updates on NAFDAC’s ongoing nationwide enforcement efforts against fake pharmaceutical products.
She revealed that NAFDAC officials routinely face significant dangers as they combat fake and substandard drugs throughout the country. Therefore, she has urged local authorities to enhance their protection.
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The NAFDAC DG reiterated her call for the implementation of the death penalty for dealers of counterfeit drugs, labeling them as dangerous merchants who jeopardize millions of lives.
“One of our staff members in Kano had his child kidnapped because he refused to compromise. Fortunately, the child managed to escape.”
NAFDAC DG provides update on crackdown against fake drugs
According to Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s recent intensified enforcement actions have led to the seizure of 87 truckloads of substandard and expired medical products, including essential antiretroviral drugs, condoms, and other compromised medical supplies.
This operation affected major drug markets in Lagos, Anambra, and Abia, resulting in the confiscation of fake drugs valued at over N1 trillion, marking the largest seizure in the agency’s history.
However, she lamented the personal toll that comes with the job, noting that she now requires constant police protection.
“I have two policemen living with me in Abuja and Lagos. I don’t have a life anymore. I can’t go anywhere without escorts. That’s not how I want to live, but I have no choice,” she stated.
Despite the ongoing threats, the NAFDAC DG reaffirmed the agency’s unwavering commitment to eliminating counterfeit drugs from the local market.
