My life is in danger – NAFDAC DG cries out

My life is in danger – NAFDAC DG cries out

 The Director-General of the National Agency for Food, Drugs
Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised the
alarm over threats to her life and the safety of agency staff, calling on
authorities to protect them as they navigate hazardous conditions in their
duties.

 

She also advocated for the death penalty for those involved
in the production and sale of fake and counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.

 

Speaking at a State House briefing at the Presidential
Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, Prof. Adeyeye disclosed that NAFDAC had recently
seized illicit drugs worth over N1 trillion in an ongoing crackdown against
substandard and fake pharmaceutical products.

 

The NAFDAC boss revealed that the agency’s intensified
enforcement efforts had resulted in the seizure of 87 truckloads of banned,
expired, and substandard medical products. Among the confiscated items were
USAID- and UNFPA-donated antiretroviral drugs, male and female condoms, and
other compromised medical supplies.

 

She described the large-scale operation, which targeted
Nigeria’s three major open drug markets, as the biggest in NAFDAC’s history.
The operation was executed in:

 

Ariaria and Eziukwu Markets (Aba, Abia State)

 

Bridge Head Market (Onitsha, Anambra State)

 

Idumota Drug Market (Lagos State)

 

Prof. Adeyeye estimated that the value of the seized items
was at least N1 trillion, but noted that further assessment could reveal a
higher figure.

 

The NAFDAC DG recounted how staff members had faced
kidnapping attempts and physical threats due to their work.

 

“I told you about the attempted murder about six months ago.
One of our staff members in Kano had his child kidnapped because he was doing
his job. Fortunately, the child escaped,” she revealed.

 

“For me, 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 don’t have a choice because we must
save our country. Nonetheless, I also use common sense.”

 

Akunyili’s Legacy and
the Battle Against Fake Drugs

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

 

Akunyili’s motivation stemmed from the death of her sister,
who died after receiving fake insulin. Her campaigns led to the closure of
open-air drug markets and the confiscation of fake drugs, drawing numerous
threats and even an assassination attempt in 2003.

 

Like Akunyili, Prof. Adeyeye remains determined to eradicate
the fake drug menace despite the dangers involved.

 

Prof. Adeyeye emphasized the need for stricter punishments,
including the death penalty, for those endangering lives through fake drugs.

 

She urged the Nigerian government to implement stronger laws
to curb the life-threatening trade of counterfeit pharmaceuticals.

 

NAFDAC continues to intensify its enforcement actions
nationwide, with the goal of protecting public health and restoring confidence
in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry.

 

 

Source: My life is in danger – NAFDAC DG cries out

 - NigerianEye
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