By Gabriel Ameh
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over what he described as the alarming proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju also urged the President to remove the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), over what he described as failures in regulation and enforcement.
In a statement, Adeyanju expressed concern over the reported circulation and sale of fake and substandard medicines and other potentially unsafe consumer products across the country.
He particularly criticised the alleged sale of medicines in open markets and under direct exposure to heat and sunlight, describing the situation as a serious threat to public safety.
According to him, Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products on a daily basis, while weak regulatory enforcement could have serious consequences for public health.
Adeyanju accused NAFDAC of appearing incapable of effectively stopping the spread of counterfeit and substandard products and said similar concerns extended to SON and other agencies responsible for protecting consumers.
He called on President Tinubu to take what he described as decisive action by replacing the leadership of regulatory agencies where there has been failure and appointing what he termed competent professionals capable of strengthening regulation and enforcement.
Calls for Regulatory Overhaul
Adeyanju further urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and products.
He said such a declaration should be accompanied by a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s regulatory framework, including enforcement mechanisms and the capacity of agencies responsible for protecting consumers.
The activist argued that the country could not continue to expose citizens to potentially dangerous medicines and products while regulatory gaps persisted.
He said Nigerians should not have to bear the consequences of what he described as regulatory failure.
Adeyanju’s comments come amid continuing concerns over the availability and circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in Nigeria.
He called on the Federal Government to treat the issue as an urgent national priority and strengthen the institutions responsible for ensuring that medicines and consumer products available to Nigerians meet required safety and quality standards.
