NAFDAC seeks stiffer penalties against drug traffickers.
The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has reiterated her call for stiffer penalties against drug peddlers, advocating for the death penalty for those whose actions result in the death of children.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday and signed by the agency’s resident media consultant, Mr. Olusayo Akintola, Adeyeye described drug peddlers as “merchants of death” who prioritize financial gain over human lives. She stressed that only severe punishments would serve as a deterrent to those involved in the illegal distribution of harmful and substandard medications.
She lamented the devastating impact of counterfeit drugs, particularly on children, emphasizing that urgent action was needed to curb the menace.
According to her, some of these substandard medicines cause irreversible damage to vital organs, leading to slow and painful deaths. She urged lawmakers and policymakers to enact stricter laws, including capital punishment, for individuals and syndicates involved in the manufacture and distribution of fake drugs.
NAFDAC has been actively fighting against counterfeit pharmaceuticals, conducting multiple raids and seizures over the years. Despite these efforts, illegal drug markets continue to thrive due to corruption, weak enforcement, and high demand for cheaper alternatives.
Adeyeye believes that implementing the death penalty for offenders will send a strong message and significantly reduce the prevalence of drug peddling in Nigeria.
