Human rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over what he described as the alarming proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and other unsafe consumer products across Nigeria.
Adeyanju made the call in a statement made available on Monday in Abuja, expressing concern over the increasing prevalence of fake and substandard medicines and other products capable of posing serious risks to public health and safety.
According to him, the situation points to what he described as a regulatory collapse in critical sectors responsible for protecting Nigerians from harmful and substandard products.
The activist particularly criticised the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, alleging that the agency appeared incapable of effectively curbing the widespread circulation of counterfeit and substandard medicines and consumer products.
Adeyanju argued that the continued availability of such products in the Nigerian market raises serious questions about the effectiveness of existing regulatory and enforcement mechanisms.
He therefore urged President Tinubu to take urgent and decisive action to address the situation, stressing the need for stronger oversight and more effective enforcement of standards in the interest of public health.
The lawyer also called on the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, and other regulatory agencies saddled with the responsibility of protecting Nigerians from unsafe and substandard products to intensify their monitoring and enforcement activities.
Adeyanju maintained that government agencies must demonstrate greater commitment to ensuring that products entering and circulating within the Nigerian market meet required safety and quality standards.
He further stressed the need for a coordinated response among relevant regulatory bodies to tackle the circulation of counterfeit medicines and other potentially harmful consumer goods.
The call comes amid longstanding concerns over the dangers associated with fake and substandard medicines, which can undermine treatment, endanger lives and weaken public confidence in the healthcare system.
Adeyanju’s proposed state of emergency, according to his statement, is intended to draw urgent national attention to the problem and compel stronger action from regulatory authorities and other stakeholders.
He urged the Federal Government to treat the issue as a matter of national importance and take immediate steps to strengthen regulatory institutions and protect Nigerians from products that could endanger their health and safety.
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