By Nkechi Eze
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Drugs and Illicit Trafficking has pledged stronger legislative support for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as part of efforts to curb drug abuse, illicit trafficking and alcohol misuse across the country.
The committee, led by Hon. Timehin Adelegbe, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to NAFDAC headquarters aimed at deepening collaboration between the National Assembly and the regulatory agency.
In an official signed statement issued by NAFDAC’s Deputy Director, Public Relations and Protocol, Adegboyega Osiyemi, Hon. Adelegbe commended the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, for what he described as her steadfast leadership in combating drug abuse and protecting public health.
Speaking during the visit, the lawmaker highlighted the far-reaching consequences of drug and alcohol abuse across all age groups, noting that substance abuse continues to undermine families, destabilise communities and pose significant threats to national security.
He explained that the visit formed part of the committee’s oversight responsibilities and was also a strategic move to strengthen partnership with NAFDAC in developing effective legislation to address illicit drug trafficking, regulate alcohol consumption, and ensure proper control of the sale and use of medicines nationwide.
Hon. Adelegbe acknowledged NAFDAC’s pivotal role in safeguarding public health and affirmed the committee’s readiness to back legislative measures that would grant the agency greater autonomy to discharge its mandate effectively and without undue interference. He added that the engagement would provide lawmakers with deeper insight into the operational challenges confronting NAFDAC as a regulator and help identify areas where the National Assembly can offer necessary institutional support.
The committee further recognised the strong link between drug and alcohol abuse and the prevailing security challenges in the country, pledging to provide the legislative backing required to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and stem the tide of substance abuse nationwide.
Responding, Prof. Adeyeye expressed appreciation for the visit and the committee’s commitment to collaborative engagement. She outlined some of the challenges facing the agency, particularly in enforcing the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles below 200 millilitres.
The Director-General stressed the serious health and mental implications of alcohol consumption among persons under the age of 18, revealing that both NAFDAC and independent investigators have conducted surveys on underage alcohol use, with findings she described as alarming and deeply concerning.
Calling for collective responsibility, Prof. Adeyeye urged stakeholders, including the National Assembly, to continue supporting NAFDAC’s public health mandate.
“Industry is driven by money, but NAFDAC is driven by health and social consequences,” she stated, underscoring the agency’s commitment to prioritising the wellbeing of Nigerians over commercial interests.
