Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has asked the Federal Government to take urgent action over the circulation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on the issue, arguing that the scale of the problem required more aggressive regulatory intervention.
He also demanded the removal of NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, and the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Adeyanju said the continued availability of suspected counterfeit and substandard products raised serious questions about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s regulatory framework.
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He alleged that NAFDAC had been unable to effectively contain the problem and said similar concerns affected SON and other agencies responsible for consumer protection.
Adeyanju warned that Nigerians were being exposed to potentially dangerous medicines and other consumer goods.
He also cited reports of drugs being sold in open markets and exposed to excessive heat as an issue requiring government attention.
“No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise,” he said.
The activist urged President Tinubu to review the leadership of regulatory agencies and appoint officials capable of strengthening monitoring, enforcement and consumer protection.
“The President must be alive to his responsibility and act decisively by removing the Director-General of NAFDAC and the heads of other failed regulatory agencies, including SON,” he said.
Adeyanju also called for a comprehensive review of the country’s regulatory system, arguing that changes were needed to address weaknesses in enforcement.
He said the Federal Government should formally treat the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs as a national emergency.
According to him, the government must ensure that regulatory institutions are sufficiently equipped and effective in preventing unsafe products from reaching the public.
“Nigerians cannot continue to pay with their lives for regulatory failure,” he said.
The demand comes amid renewed scrutiny of product safety in Nigeria. Recent reporting has highlighted concerns over suspected counterfeit products, while NAFDAC has pointed to ongoing seizures and destruction of products deemed counterfeit, expired, substandard or otherwise unwholesome.
