House committee chairman Timehin Adelegbe during a courtesy visit to NAFDAC DG Mojisola Adeyeye to discuss collaboration on drug abuse control.
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Drugs and Illicit Trafficking has commended the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, for her leadership in efforts to curb drug abuse and protect public health.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Timehin Adelegbe, gave the commendation during a courtesy visit to NAFDAC headquarters in Abuja, aimed at strengthening collaboration between the legislature and the agency.
Committee’s Position
Hon. Adelegbe said drug and alcohol abuse continue to have serious social and security implications across age groups.
In a statement by Deputy Director (Public Relations/Protocol Adegboyega Osiyemi says drug and alcohol abuse continue to threaten families, communities, and national security, noting that the visit was part of the committee’s oversight role and efforts to strengthen laws against illicit drug trafficking and alcohol misuse.
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According to him, the committee is ready to support legislative measures that would give NAFDAC greater operational autonomy to regulate medicines and enforce public health standards.
He said the engagement would also help lawmakers understand challenges facing the agency and identify areas where the National Assembly can provide support.
The committee further linked drug abuse to Nigeria’s security challenges and pledged legislative backing to strengthen enforcement.
NAFDAC DG Responds
In her remarks, Prof. Adeyeye thanked the committee for the visit and called for stronger collaboration to address public health risks.
She highlighted enforcement challenges related to the ban on alcoholic drinks sold in sachets and PET bottles below 200 millilitres.
The NAFDAC DG also raised concern over underage alcohol consumption, saying surveys conducted by the agency and independent investigators show alarming trends among persons under 18.
She urged lawmakers and stakeholders to support NAFDAC’s mandate to regulate drugs and alcohol sales.
“Industry is driven by profit, but NAFDAC is driven by health and social consequences,” she said.
Background
Nigeria continues to face rising concerns over drug abuse, counterfeit medicines, and alcohol misuse, particularly among young people.
NAFDAC is responsible for regulating food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical products, while the National Assembly provides legal backing through legislation and oversight.
Experts say stronger laws, enforcement capacity, and public awareness are critical to reducing substance abuse and protecting public health.
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