In a bold move to tackle the rising menace of substandard and counterfeit medicines in Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has proposed the death penalty for individuals involved in the sale and distribution of fake drugs.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the call during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday, emphasizing that only severe punishments would deter drug peddlers whose products have led to child fatalities.
Adeyeye cited a recent case where a children’s medicine sold for as low as ₦3,000 was found to contain no active ingredients when tested in NAFDAC’s Kaduna laboratory.
“I want the death penalty because you don’t need to put a gun to a child’s head before killing them—just give them bad medicine,” she asserted.
She highlighted the need for a stronger legal framework, stressing that weak penalties currently allow offenders to walk free with minimal consequences.
“Somebody brought in 225mg of Tramadol—enough to kill and fry the brain—and they got a five-year prison sentence or a ₦250,000 fine. That’s not a deterrent. Who doesn’t know that the person can withdraw ₦250,000 from an ATM?” she queried.
To enforce stricter measures, Adeyeye said NAFDAC is working closely with the judiciary and the National Assembly to strengthen penalties for drug-related offenses.
She also pointed out that the agency is constrained by limited funding and staff shortages, with only 2,000 personnel nationwide, making enforcement a challenge.
Adeyeye emphasized that without stronger laws and judicial backing, the fight against fake drugs would remain an uphill battle.
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