NAFDAC Chief Mojisola Adeyeye Unfazed by Death Threats in Fight Against Fake Drugs

Mojisola Adeyeye, the director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has declared that she remains undeterred by death threats stemming from the agency’s crackdown on counterfeit drug networks.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja over the weekend, Adeyeye revealed that NAFDAC’s intensified efforts to dismantle major fake drug distribution hubs in Kano, Idumota, Yaba, and Onitsha have drawn threats against her life. However, she clarified that such intimidation tactics will not shake her commitment to public health.

“I spent 37 years in the United States and could have stayed there comfortably,” she said. “But I chose to return home to serve. I see this as a mission—just like the missionaries who left their home countries to live with us in Nigeria. I have no excuse not to do the same.”

Adeyeye emphasized that while she is fully aware of the dangers associated with her role, fear is not an option.

“Coming back home is a sacrifice. I have children and grandchildren I hardly see. But fear is not part of my daily dictionary,” she stated. “That doesn’t mean I don’t use common sense, but my priority is protecting the health of Nigerians.”

Her concerns extend beyond her safety to that of NAFDAC workers, who often face violent resistance while carrying out enforcement operations. She recalled a harrowing incident in Onitsha where an inspector was left bloodied after an attack.

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“I wasn’t the one beaten and left bleeding in Onitsha six months ago—it was one of my workers,” she said. “I once noticed an injury on an employee’s arm and asked what happened. She told me they were nearly killed while on inspection.”

Adeyeye called on the government to provide better protection and compensation for NAFDAC personnel, stressing that their work is crucial in safeguarding public health.