*Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, explains why the agency ‘strongly advocates the death penalty or lifetime jail term鈥� for manufacturers and distributors of fake drugs in the country

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

As part of its renewed efforts at safeguarding the health of Nigerian consumers, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has advocated stricter measures as the death penalty for counterfeit drug dealers in the West African country.

绿帽献妻 reports Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, stated this Friday, February 7, 2025, while featuring in a Channels TV programme, monitored in Lagos.

It is noted that Dr. Paul Orhii, a former Chief Executive of the health sector regulatory agency, had broached a proposed bill seeking the death penalty for fake drug peddlers in Nigeria.

Adeyeye said: 鈥淚n the proposed law, we will strongly advocate the death penalty or lifetime jail term for manufacturers and distributors of fake drugs, especially in situations where it is determined that such medicines proximately caused death or severe bodily injury. “We will also seek to provide in the new law, a cause of action for victims of counterfeit drugs, and actively encourage and assist victims to gather evidence to enable them to successfully sue manufacturers and distributors of these deadly products for adequate compensation and punitive damages to serve as deterrent to others.鈥�

The Director-General also urged the industry stakeholders for support on this measure.

Adeyeye as well solicited the cooperation of the country’s Judiciary and the National Assembly (NASS), in Abuja, FCT, to make the proposal on the death death penalty for fake drug cabal a reality.

On NAFDAC key operational challenges

Highlighting the major challenges of the health sector regulator in respect of measures against fake drugs, Prof. Adeyeye said: 鈥淭here are no strict measures to stop offenders from repeating the same crime.”

She, therefore, urged the Nigerian Judiciary to be strong and firm in the regard.

The NAFDAC Chief asserted: “So, our judicial system must be strong enough. We are working with the National Assembly to make our penalties much stiffer.

“But if you kill a child with bad medicine, you deserve to die.”

Adeyeye also explained: “Someone brought in (Nigeria) 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.

“Who doesn鈥檛 know that a person can simply withdraw N250,000 from an ATM?鈥�

Damaging effects of counterfeit medicines on consumers

As regards the ruining impact of fake drugs on consumers and the entire Nigerian economy, the Director-General said: 鈥淪omebody bought children鈥檚 medicine for about N13,000, while another person was selling it for around N3,000 in the same mall.

“That raised an alarm. Guess what? When we tested the medicine in our Kaduna lab, there was nothing inside. So, I want the death penalty.”

She stated: 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need to put a gun to a child鈥檚 head to kill them. Just give them bad medicine.

“You cannot fight substandard and falsified medicines in isolation.

“The agency can only do so much, but if there is no deterrent, there will be a problem.鈥�

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