By Esi-ife Arogundade
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised the alarm about threats to her life and the safety of her staff.
Adeyeye, who expressed her concerns at a recent press briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, said this followed the agency’s unprecedented seizure of illicit drugs, valued at approximately N1 trillion, during a large-scale enforcement operation across major drug markets in Onitsha, Aba, and Lagos.
Adeyeye emphasized the risks faced by NAFDAC operatives daily and urged government authorities to provide enhanced protection for those involved in combating the country’s rampant counterfeit drug trade. She called for the implementation of the death penalty for those involved in the distribution of fake and illicit medications, reflecting the seriousness of the issue.
During her address, Adeyeye recalled the dangers faced by her predecessor, Prof. Dora Akunyili, who received threats from drug cartels due to her efforts in fighting counterfeit drugs in Nigeria. Akunyili’s own motivation stemmed from the tragic loss of her sister, who died after receiving fake insulin. Adeyeye noted that her own team has faced similar threats, citing a past attempted murder and an incident in Kano where the child of an NAFDAC staff member was kidnapped in retaliation for the father’s law enforcement activities.
“I have two policemen living in my house 24/7 in Abuja and Lagos,” Adeyeye revealed. “I don’t have a life. I cannot go anywhere without police protection, and to me, that is not my way of living. But I don’t have a choice because we’ve got to save our country.”
The recent operation, which commenced on February 9, 2025, led to the confiscation of 87 truckloads of banned and substandard medical products, including critically endangered antiretroviral drugs and condoms donated by organizations such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The enforcement action involved 1,100 security personnel, and markets were cordoned off to prevent the concealment or smuggling of illegal goods.
The NAFDAC chief reported that many legal medications were found improperly stored under extreme conditions, while large quantities of dangerous and highly abused substances, including Tramadol and Flunitrazepam, were seized, posing a severe threat to national security. Notably, unapproved drugs, such as Tafrodol, were uncovered in Onitsha as part of this ongoing campaign against the illicit drug trade.
As part of expanding law enforcement measures, Adeyeye urged the National Assembly to expedite amendments to the NAFDAC Act and the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs Act to introduce harsher penalties, including life sentences and the death penalty, for offenders.
So far, 40 arrests have been made in relation to the operation, with suspects facing prosecution for their involvement in the distribution of these dangerous goods. The NAFDAC Director-General reiterated the agency’s commitment to protecting public health and continuing the enforcement of stringent measures to eradicate counterfeit and substandard medical products from the Nigerian market.
