By Ukpa Ewa
The Senate of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has accused the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of failing to effectively curb the circulation of fake drugs, adulterated food and other harmful consumables across Nigeria.
In a statement signed by the President of the NANS Senate, Dist. Senator Ibeabuchi Moses Onyia (IBB), the students’ body called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in what it described as the deteriorating state of food and drug safety regulation in the country.
NANS expressed concern over the alleged proliferation of counterfeit drugs and adulterated products in markets, along roadsides and on online platforms, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to public health, particularly the wellbeing of students and other vulnerable Nigerians.
The association cited reports involving suspected counterfeit toothpaste, adulterated palm oil, artificially enhanced fruits, fake soy sauce, olive oil and yoghurt products, saying the development raises serious questions about the effectiveness of regulatory monitoring and enforcement.
It also expressed concern over the growing use of social media and e-commerce platforms to market drugs, supplements, cosmetics and food products, alleging that some vendors operate without proper regulatory approval or adequate verification.
According to NANS, the alleged regulatory gaps have created an environment where individuals involved in the production and distribution of unsafe products can operate with limited scrutiny, exposing unsuspecting consumers to serious health risks.
The students’ body further referenced a recent account attributed to former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, concerning laboratory findings on freshly squeezed orange juice reportedly consumed by his wife.
NANS said the reported findings, which allegedly indicated that the juice was unfit for human consumption, should serve as another wake-up call for stronger food-safety monitoring and regulatory enforcement.
The association warned that the consequences of counterfeit drugs and adulterated consumables go beyond immediate health concerns, potentially contributing to drug resistance, organ damage, premature deaths and declining productivity among citizens.
NANS therefore called for an independent audit of NAFDAC and other relevant regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), as well as a comprehensive overhaul of the monitoring and regulation of online commerce involving food, drugs and other regulated products.
It also urged President Tinubu to direct sustained enforcement operations against counterfeiters and adulterators and establish a transparent accountability framework for regulatory agencies.
The students insisted that Nigerians need decisive action rather than occasional public warnings, stressing that protecting citizens from dangerous drugs, food and other harmful products must remain a national priority.
Tags: NANS, NAFDAC, Fake Drugs, Food Safety
