ABUJA – The Director-General of the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised alarm over threats to her life and the safety of agency staff, urging authorities to provide stronger protection as they combat the dangerous trade of fake and substandard drugs in Nigeria.

At a State House briefing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, Prof. Adeyeye advocated for the death penalty for those involved in the production and sale of counterfeit pharmaceuticals. She revealed that NAFDAC had seized over N1 trillion worth of illicit and expired drugs in an unprecedented crackdown on substandard medical products.

The agency’s recent enforcement efforts led to the confiscation of 87 truckloads of banned, expired, and fake medical supplies. Among the seized items were USAID- and UNFPA-donated antiretroviral drugs, male and female condoms, and other compromised medical products.

Prof. Adeyeye described the operation — the largest in NAFDAC’s history — which targeted Nigeria’s three major open drug markets:

• Ariaria and Eziukwu Markets (Aba, Abia State)
• Bridge Head Market (Onitsha, Anambra State)
• Idumota Drug Market (Lagos State)

She estimated the value of the seized products at N1 trillion, though further assessment might reveal an even higher figure.

Threats and Attacks on NAFDAC Staff

Highlighting the personal and professional risks faced by NAFDAC staff, Prof. Adeyeye recounted disturbing incidents of kidnapping attempts and physical threats.

“One of our staff members in Kano had his child kidnapped because he was doing his job. Fortunately, the child escaped,” she revealed.

For her own safety, Prof. Adeyeye noted that she lives under constant police protection, with two armed officers stationed at her residences 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,” she said.

Continuing Akunyili’s Legacy

The threats facing Prof. Adeyeye echo those experienced by the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, who led NAFDAC from 2001 to 2009 and became a target of powerful drug cartels due to her relentless fight against counterfeit drugs.

Akunyili’s personal motivation came from the tragic death of her sister, who died after receiving fake insulin. Her bold campaigns led to the closure of open-air drug markets and the confiscation of counterfeit pharmaceuticals, drawing numerous death threats and surviving an assassination attempt in 2003.

Prof. Adeyeye remains undeterred by the dangers and is committed to eradicating the menace of fake drugs in Nigeria.

“We must save our country, and I will continue this fight — no matter the threats,” she declared.

Stricter Penalties and Calls for Reform

Calling for tougher legal measures, Prof. Adeyeye urged the Nigerian government to enforce stricter penalties, including the death sentence, for those endangering lives with fake and substandard drugs.

“These criminals are playing with people’s lives, and stronger consequences are necessary to stop them,” she emphasized.

NAFDAC continues its nationwide enforcement actions, protecting public health and restoring trust in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector. Prof. Adeyeye vowed that the agency would remain vigilant and relentless in its mission to safeguard the health and well-being of Nigerians.