NAFDAC DG Reveals Why Drug Markets Were Shut Down, Calls for More Support for Herbal Drug Research
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has revealed that the recent crackdown and closure of major drug markets across Nigeria was a result of carefully planned operations aimed at dismantling dangerous networks involved in the revalidation and circulation of expired drugs. Speaking during an interview on Sunrise Daily, a morning programme on Channels Television, Professor Adeyeye described the illegal activities uncovered in some drug markets as alarming, stating that a network of unscrupulous individuals had formed cartels within the markets, endangering public health by manipulating and rebranding expired medicines for resale. "We had to face it as if going to war," she said. “It took us a year to plan. These are not just isolated incidents. There are cabals operating within the drug markets who revalidate expired drugs and push them into circulation, putting the lives of millions of Nigerians at risk.” According to the NAFDAC boss, these operations had to be treated with military-like precision due to the entrenched interests and the scale of the criminal activity involved. She added that NAFDAC had gathered intelligence over time, and with the support of relevant enforcement agencies, moved in to shut down affected markets and seize harmful products. Professor Adeyeye also used the opportunity to speak on the regulation of herbal medicine in Nigeria, stressing that the country is still at an early stage in terms of research and standardization in the herbal drug industry. She noted that while herbal products are widely used and culturally accepted, the scientific backing and consistent evidence needed to support long-term regulatory approvals are still lacking. “Right now, we can’t issue five-year approvals for herbal drugs because Nigeria has not stepped up to that level yet,” she explained. “The data needed to justify such approvals—clinical trials, toxicological studies, pharmacovigilance—are not robust or consistent enough. If the government can support structured research in that area, then we can begin to build the foundation for stronger regulatory confidence.” She emphasized that without adequate research funding and laboratory infrastructure, the safety and efficacy of herbal products cannot be reliably determined. Professor Adeyeye further urged traditional medicine practitioners and herbal product manufacturers to collaborate with scientists, universities, and regulatory bodies to improve product quality and documentation. NAFDAC, under her leadership, has intensified efforts to clean up the pharmaceutical sector, clamp down on illegal drug manufacturing and distribution, and raise public awareness about the dangers of substandard and falsified medicines. “Our mission is to protect the health of Nigerians. Whether the product is orthodox or herbal, we must apply the same level of scrutiny and scientific rigor to ensure that it is safe, effective, and of the highest quality,” she stated. The agency has called on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious drug activities, while promising continued enforcement and policy reforms aimed at restoring integrity to Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and herbal medicine industries.
