Death threats hovering around me – NAFDAC boss, Adeyeye

Tamarauemi Ebimini

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, has revealed that her life is in danger due to her efforts to rid the country of fake and illicit drug products.

She said she no longer has personal freedom, as she cannot move about without security protection.

According to the NAFDAC DG, her staff, who assist in making her job meaningful, are also facing security threats. She recounted how one of her staff members’ sons was kidnapped but fortunately escaped from his abductors.

Prof. Adeyeye made this revelation on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during the Meet the Media Parley organized 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.

She estimated the total value of the seized counterfeit drugs and products to be about N1 trillion.

It will be recalled that Prof. Dora Akunyili, a former NAFDAC Director-General (2001-2009), also faced threats from drug cartels due to her relentless efforts to combat counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.

Her personal motivation stemmed from the death of her sister, who died after receiving fake insulin. Akunyili’s 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.

Shedding more light, Prof. Adeyeye 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 stated 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.

Prof. 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.

According to her, security forces cordoned off the markets to prevent traders from concealing or smuggling out illegal products.