Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised the alarm that her life is in danger because of her Agency’s efforts to rid the country of fake and illicit drug products.
Adeyeye said she no longer has personal freedom because she has to everywhere with her security details for protection.
The NAFDAC DG added that her staff, who assist in making her job meaningful, are also facing security threats.
Adeyeye recounted how the sons of one of her staff members were kidnapped, but fortunately escaped from his abductors.
Adeyeye raised this alarm on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during the Meet the Media Parley organised by the presidential media team.
Speaking on the controversies surrounding recent seizures in drug markets across the country, she stated that the large-scale enforcement operation across three major open drug markets—Onitsha, Aba, and Lagos—was one of the biggest in NAFDAC’s history.
Adeyeye estimated the total value of the seized counterfeit drugs and products to be about N1 trillion.
Recall that a former NAFDAC Director-General (2001-2009), Prof Dora Akunyili, faced similar threats from drug cartels due to her relentless efforts to combat counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.
Akunyili’s personal motivation stemmed from the death of her sister, who died after receiving fake insulin. Her campaigns led to the closure of open-air medicine markets and the confiscation of large quantities of fake drugs, earning her numerous threats and an assassination attempt in 2003.
Her actions significantly disrupted the operations of drug cartels, making her a target for retaliation.
Narrating NAFDAC’s challenges, Adeyeye said, ”I told you about the attempted murder about six months ago. One of our staff in Kano, his child was kidnapped because the father was doing what he was supposed to do. Fortunately, the child escaped.
“For me, I have two policemen living in my house 24/7 in Abuja and Lagos. I don’t have a life. I cannot go anywhere without police, and to me, that is not my way of living. But I don’t have a choice because we have to save our country. Nonetheless, I also use common sense,”* Prof. Adeyeye said, providing insight into the agency’s precarious operations.
Adeyeye however said the ongoing crackdown on illicit drug trade by the agency has led to the seizure of 87 truckloads of banned, expired, and substandard medical products. These include USAID- and UNFPA-donated antiretroviral drugs, male and female condoms.
She disclosed that the value of the seizures is at least N1 trillion and could be much higher after further assessment.
The operation was carried out in Ariaria and Eziukwu Markets (Aba), Bridge Head Market (Onitsha), and Idumota Drug Market (Lagos).
She explained that this action is part of NAFDAC’s National Action Plan (NAP 2.0) 2023-2027, aimed at eliminating counterfeit medicines, improving regulatory compliance, and safeguarding public health.
Adeyeye revealed that the exercise, which commenced on February 9, 2025, involved 1,100 security operatives, including military personnel, police, and Department of State Services (DSS) agents.
She said security forces cordoned off the markets to prevent traders from concealing or smuggling out illegal products.
