NAFDAC Proposes Death Penalty for Drug Peddlers

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, has called for the death penalty for drug peddlers, particularly those involved in the sale of counterfeit medicines that endanger lives. She stressed that strong deterrents are needed to curb the deadly impact of fake drugs, especially those that harm children.

Prof. Adeyeye shared a disturbing incident where counterfeit children’s medicine was being sold at inflated prices. Tests conducted in NAFDAC’s Kaduna lab revealed the medicine contained no active ingredients. Adeyeye argued that such actions, which endanger lives, are as lethal as direct violence, and called for the ultimate penalty to deter offenders.

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The NAFDAC DG also urged the cooperation of the judiciary and the National Assembly to implement such measures, emphasising the need for legislative support in tackling the growing issue of drug peddling. She expressed the agency’s willingness to collaborate with lawmakers and other stakeholders in making her proposal a reality.

However, Adeyeye also highlighted significant challenges facing NAFDAC, including a shortage of staff and limited funding. With only 2,000 personnel across the country, the agency is constrained in its efforts to combat drug peddling effectively.