Victoria Mbangwa
In a bold move to tackle the rising menace of counterfeit drugs and unsafe processed foods, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated a Federal Task Force, signaling a new era of coordinated enforcement against what experts describe as “silent killers” in Nigerian markets.
At the inauguration ceremony held in Abuja on Thursday, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, described the proliferation of fake drugs and unwholesome foods as an insidious threat to public health, national security, and consumer confidence.
“Lives are at stake every day,” she warned, “and delays in action only deepen the risks faced by our people.”
The Federal Task Force, empowered by the legal provisions of Cap C34, is designed as a multi-sectoral body involving health, law enforcement, and food safety stakeholders. Its primary mandate is to identify, seize, and destroy counterfeit products and prosecute offenders across Nigeria.
This is not NAFDAC’s first strike against illicit products. According to Prof. Adeyeye, in a series of high-impact raids conducted between February and March 2025, the agency confiscated and destroyed over 100 trucks of counterfeit and substandard medicines and foods, valued at more than ₦1 trillion.
These operations, which targeted major drug markets including Onitsha and Ariaria, led to numerous arrests and the removal of thousands of dangerous goods from public circulation.
“The scale of these seizures underscores the gravity of the threat and our unwavering commitment to combat it,” the DG stated.
While enforcement remains critical, NAFDAC is emphasizing that the battle cannot be won alone. Prof. Adeyeye made a strong appeal for unity among stakeholders, calling on the private sector, consumer groups, and civil society to take active roles in the fight.
She also hinted at the agency’s plans to launch nationwide public awareness campaigns and employ modern technologies to detect and trace counterfeit goods before they reach consumers.
Counterfeit medicines and foods do more than harm individual consumers; they erode public trust in health systems and disrupt Nigeria’s food and pharmaceutical supply chains. With millions at risk, the establishment of this Task Force marks a significant policy and operational shift in how Nigeria intends to address these life-threatening challenges.
In her concluding remarks, Prof. Adeyeye expressed gratitude to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and other partners, affirming her confidence in Nigeria’s ability to win this battle.
The war against counterfeit drugs and dangerous processed foods is far from over but with this move, NAFDAC has signaled that the time for passive concern is over. What lies ahead is a fight for national health security.
