NAFDAC Seeks Death by Hanging for Fake Product Dealers, Calls for Tougher punishment.

By Desmond

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called for tougher punishment for individuals involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit products in Nigeria, with the death penalty among the proposed sanctions.

The proposal has reignited discussions about the dangers posed by fake drugs, adulterated food, and other substandard regulated products, which continue to threaten public health and consumer safety.

NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has advocated stricter penalties for counterfeiters, arguing that the existing punishments may not be sufficient to deter those involved in the dangerous trade.

Fake and substandard products remain a major concern in Nigeria, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, where counterfeit medicines can expose patients to serious health complications and, in some cases, death.

The agency has repeatedly warned against the circulation of unregistered medicines and products that fail to meet approved safety and quality standards.

The proposed tougher sanctions are intended to send a strong message to individuals and businesses that deliberately endanger consumers for financial gain.

However, it is important to clarify that the reported call for the death penalty does not automatically mean that death by hanging has become the law. Any new punishment would have to follow the appropriate legislative process before it could be enforced.

Under existing Nigerian laws, certain offences involving counterfeit drugs already attract lengthy prison sentences. The proposed changes would represent a significant escalation in the punishment available for such crimes.

The development has also raised questions about enforcement, consumer awareness, and the responsibility of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in preventing counterfeit products from reaching the public.

Consumers are advised to purchase medicines and other regulated products from reputable outlets, check product registration details, and report suspected fake products to the appropriate authorities.

As discussions about tougher penalties continue, the central issue remains how best to protect Nigerians from dangerous products while ensuring that offenders are prosecuted under the law.

My View .

Anyone who knowingly manufactures or sells fake drugs that put innocent lives at risk deserves serious punishment. However, any proposed death penalty must go through the proper legal process before it can be described as an existing law. The government must also strengthen enforcement and ensure that innocent traders are not wrongly accused.

Source: NAFDAC; The Sun Nigeria — report on proposed tougher penalties for fake-product dealers.