The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, has called for the death penalty for individuals involved in the trafficking of counterfeit drugs. She emphasized that severe consequences are necessary to deter offenders, especially when their actions result in fatalities.
Adeyeye highlighted a recent incident where a children’s medication was found to be completely ineffective, underscoring the lethal potential of fake drugs. She stated, “You don’t need to put a gun to a child’s head to kill them. Just give them bad medicine.”
The NAFDAC chief also urged collaboration with the judiciary and the National Assembly to implement stricter penalties for counterfeit drug dealers. She pointed out that current punishments, such as a five-year prison term or a fine of N250,000 for serious offenses, are insufficient deterrents. Adeyeye remarked, “Someone brought in 225mg of Tramadol, which can kill a person or fry their brain, and the punishment is just five years in prison or a fine of N250,000.”
This stance reflects NAFDAC’s ongoing commitment to combating the distribution of substandard and falsified medicines in Nigeria. The agency continues to advocate for more stringent laws and enforcement mechanisms to protect public health.
