The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is pushing for the death penalty for individuals involved in the distribution of counterfeit and harmful medicines.
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Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency’s Director-General, made this call while speaking on The Morning Brief, a program on Channels Television. She stressed that harsher penalties are necessary to deter the sale of fake drugs, especially when such products lead to the deaths of children.
Adeyeye cited an alarming case where a children’s medicine was being sold at different prices in the same mall. Upon testing, it was found to be ineffective.
Adeyeye noted that the current legal framework is inadequate, pointing to an instance where an individual caught with 225mg of Tramadol received only a five-year prison sentence or a fine of N250,000. She argued that such lenient punishments fail to discourage repeat offenses
The NAFDAC boss emphasized that tackling the issue requires a joint effort from lawmakers, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders to safeguard public health.
