NAFDAC DG: I Returned From US to Restore Nigeria’s Image

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has rejected calls for her resignation, saying she returned to Nigeria after 34 years in the United States because she was “ashamed” of the country and wanted to help restore its image. Adeyeye, who spoke during an engagement with journalists on Monday, said she had no regrets about leaving behind a successful career in the US to serve Nigeria. The NAFDAC boss, who spent about 30 years as a professor in the United States before retiring, said her decision to lead the agency was motivated by service rather than personal gain. She challenged anyone accusing her of demanding money from contractors to come forward with evidence. Adeyeye recalled that NAFDAC faced serious financial and operational challenges when she assumed office, including about ₦3.2 billion in outstanding liabilities, while between 70 and 80 per cent of the agency’s laboratory equipment was reportedly not functioning. She said clearing the inherited liabilities was one of her immediate priorities, with about ₦3.1 billion paid by November 2018.

Adeyeye also highlighted improvements in NAFDAC’s regulatory standing, saying the agency moved from maturity level one to level three by March 2022, becoming the third agency in Africa to attain the level. She added that NAFDAC became an affiliate member of the International Medical Device Regulators Forum in 2023 and joined the International Council for Harmonisation in 2025. According to her, the agency’s improved standing has earned greater respect from regulatory bodies internationally after years of efforts to rebuild its image. Responding to persistent calls for her resignation, Adeyeye defended her record and pointed to NAFDAC’s enforcement activities, including the destruction of counterfeit products valued at more than ₦1.5 trillion over the past three years. Her comments come amid concerns over counterfeit and substandard medicines, food, beverages and cosmetics, as well as opposition from some manufacturers and civil society groups to NAFDAC’s ban on sachet alcohol and small PET bottles below 200ml. While critics argue that the policy could affect jobs and investment, NAFDAC maintains that its regulatory measures are aimed primarily at protecting public health.

#UTVAfrica#