Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), burst into laughter when a journalist asked when she would resign over the circulation of fake and substandard products in Nigeria. The question was posed during a media briefing in Lagos on Monday, September 7, where Adeyeye was discussing the agency’s efforts to combat counterfeit and unsafe goods.
Defending Her Record Amid Calls for Resignation
Adeyeye defended her tenure at NAFDAC and questioned why critics were demanding her removal despite what she described as significant improvements at the agency. She said she returned to Nigeria after spending decades in the United States because she wanted to serve her country.
“I came here to serve,” she said, adding that she was “ashamed” of her country and wanted to help remove some of that shame. Adeyeye noted that she spent about 34 years in the US, including 30 years as a professor, before retiring and coming back to Nigeria. She insisted that she did not return to enrich herself.
Challenges Inherited and Achievements
Adeyeye pointed to the challenges she inherited when she became NAFDAC’s director-general in 2017, including about ₦3.2 billion in liabilities and serious problems with the agency’s laboratory equipment and information technology infrastructure. She said the agency subsequently improved its regulatory standing and reached maturity level three in 2022.
“So that question, ‘When are you going to resign?’ I hope you got the answer?” Adeyeye replied, according to the report.
Ongoing Scrutiny and Agency Statistics
Her comments came as NAFDAC faces renewed scrutiny over fake products in Nigerian markets. The agency said it received 225 complaints about suspected counterfeit products in August alone. It also reported that 7,210 fake, substandard and other non-compliant products were removed during nationwide surveillance between May and July 2026.
NAFDAC has also said it has destroyed or seized more than ₦1.54 trillion worth of fake and substandard products since 2023. While critics argue that the continued presence of fake products shows that more needs to be done, Adeyeye maintains that her record at NAFDAC speaks for itself. For now, despite the resignation calls, the NAFDAC DG appears to have no plans to leave her position.
