The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised concerns about threats to her life and the safety of agency staff. She called on authorities to provide stronger security measures to protect them.
Speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, Adeyeye highlighted the dangers NAFDAC officials face while working to eliminate counterfeit and substandard pharmaceutical products nationwide.
She also renewed her push for severe penalties, including the death sentence, for those involved in the production and distribution of fake drugs, stressing that they pose a significant risk to public health.
“Our staff are being targeted simply for doing their jobs,” she said. “One of our officials in Kano had his child kidnapped because he refused to compromise. Fortunately, the child escaped.”
Adeyeye revealed that recent NAFDAC enforcement operations led to the confiscation of 87 truckloads of expired and substandard medical supplies, including antiretroviral drugs, condoms, and other compromised products.
Major drug markets in Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba were the focus of these crackdowns, resulting in the seizure of counterfeit drugs worth over N1 trillion—the largest in the agency’s history.
Despite these achievements, Adeyeye acknowledged the personal risks that come with the job, explaining that she now requires constant police protection.
“I have two police officers stationed with me in both Abuja and Lagos. My freedom is gone. I can’t go anywhere without security escorts. This isn’t the life I wanted, but I have no choice,” she stated.
She reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to eliminating counterfeit drugs, despite ongoing threats and intimidation.
