The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, has called for the introduction of the death penalty for drug peddlers, especially those whose actions lead to the deaths of children.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday, Adeyeye stressed that only severe legal consequences could effectively deter individuals involved in the sale of harmful and substandard medicines.
She cited a recent disturbing case where children’s medicine was sold at drastically different prices—one authentic version costing N13,000 and a counterfeit variant selling for just N3,000 in the same mall. Upon testing at NAFDAC’s Kaduna laboratory, the cheaper version was found to contain no active ingredients.
“People don’t need guns to kill. Just give a child bad medicine, and that child’s life is ruined,” Adeyeye said, expressing frustration over the growing crisis of counterfeit drugs.
She emphasized the need for a stronger legal framework to impose harsher penalties on those dealing in fake and dangerous pharmaceuticals. According to her, collaboration between the judiciary, the National Assembly, and NAFDAC is essential for the enforcement of stricter laws.
“You can’t fight substandard and falsified medicines in isolation. NAFDAC can only do so much. Without strong deterrents, the problem will persist,” she said.
Adeyeye referenced a case in which an individual was caught importing a dangerously high 225mg dose of Tramadol, which could lead to fatal overdoses. The offender received a mere five-year prison sentence or a fine of N250,000.
“Who wouldn’t pay N250,000 and continue their illegal trade? That’s a major problem—our laws are too lenient,” she added, urging lawmakers to work with NAFDAC in strengthening penalties for drug-related offenses.
Despite NAFDAC’s efforts to tackle the crisis, Adeyeye highlighted the agency’s ongoing challenges, including staff shortages and limited resources.
“With just about 2,000 employees nationwide, we are significantly understaffed. Our funding is inadequate, and we need improvements to boost our enforcement capabilities,” she concluded.