Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has raised serious concerns about threats to her life and the safety of NAFDAC staff.
She urged the government to provide more protection as the agency intensifies its fight against counterfeit and substandard drugs.
At a State House briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Prof. Adeyeye revealed that NAFDAC had recently seized illicit drugs worth over N1 trillion in a major crackdown on fake pharmaceutical products.
The operation confiscated 87 truckloads of banned, expired, and substandard medical supplies. Among these were USAID- and UNFPA-donated antiretroviral drugs, male and female condoms, and other compromised products.
The raid, the biggest in NAFDAC’s history, targeted Nigeria’s three largest open drug markets. Prof. Adeyeye estimated the seized items’ value at N1 trillion, though further assessments could push this figure higher.
However, these enforcement actions have put NAFDAC staff at significant risk. Prof. Adeyeye recounted threats, including kidnapping attempts. She mentioned a case in Kano where a staff member’s child was kidnapped due to his involvement in NAFDAC’s operations, though the child managed to escape.
“My staff members face physical threats, and I have survived attempted murder myself. One of our staff in Kano had his child kidnapped, but thankfully, the child escaped,” Prof. Adeyeye disclosed.
She also shared personal security concerns, stating, “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 have no choice because we must save our country. Nonetheless, I also use common sense.”
Prof. Adeyeye’s struggles mirror those of her predecessor, Prof. Dora Akunyili, who led NAFDAC from 2001 to 2009. Akunyili faced similar threats from drug cartels due to her relentless fight against counterfeit drugs, a mission she pursued after losing her sister to fake insulin. Like Akunyili, Prof. Adeyeye remains determined to rid Nigeria of counterfeit pharmaceuticals despite the personal risks.
To strengthen the fight against fake drugs, Prof. Adeyeye called for harsher penalties, including the death penalty, for those involved in the illegal drug trade. She urged the Nigerian government to implement stricter laws and take decisive action against counterfeit drug dealers who continue to endanger public health.
“I believe those involved in producing and selling fake drugs should face the death penalty. It is time for stronger laws to protect our citizens from these killers,” she stated.
NAFDAC remains committed to safeguarding public health and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry through continuous nationwide enforcement.
