The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is pushing for stricter penalties, including the death penalty, for individuals convicted of peddling fake and dangerous medicines. According to NAFDAC's Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency is seeking cooperation from the judiciary and the National Assembly to make this proposal a reality.
Adeyeye emphasized the need for stiffer penalties, citing a recent case where a children's medicine was sold at different prices in the same mall. Upon testing, the medicine was found to have no active ingredients, rendering it deadly. She likened such fake medicines to silent killers, harming innocent children without warning.
The NAFDAC chief also highlighted the issue of weak laws and light sentences, which encourage criminals to continue their illicit activities. She pointed out that some offenders receive only a five-year prison sentence or a fine of N250,000, an amount they can easily pay.
To effectively combat drug peddling, NAFDAC is working with lawmakers and other stakeholders to strengthen penalties. Adeyeye emphasized that the agency cannot fight substandard and falsified medicines alone, stressing the need for collaboration between regulatory bodies, lawmakers, and the judicial system.
NAFDAC's proposal for stricter penalties aims to protect public health and deter individuals from engaging in illicit activities that endanger lives.
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