The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has inaugurated a special task force in Kano to curb the spread of counterfeit medicines and unsafe food products, in a renewed push to protect public health.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the initiative is designed to strengthen enforcement against substandard and falsified regulated products. She was represented by the agency’s North-West Zonal Director, Mr. Fraden Nantim-Mullah.
Adeyeye described the task force as a federal operational unit under NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, with a clear mandate to tackle the growing threat of fake drugs and unwholesome food items.
She warned that counterfeit medicines pose serious risks to public health, weaken confidence in the healthcare system, and disrupt economic stability. According to her, Kano’s status as a major commercial hub makes it particularly vulnerable to the circulation of illegal products within and beyond the region.
The task force is expected to carry out intelligence gathering, surveillance, coordinated raids, seizure of illicit products, arrests, and prosecution of offenders. It will also lead public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the dangers of fake drugs and unsafe food.
The Secretary to the Kano State Government, Umar Farouk, said the reconstitution of the task force was timely, citing rising concerns over drug abuse and the proliferation of counterfeit products. He noted that young people remain the most affected, describing the trend as a growing social challenge.
Farouk assured the committee of government support and urged members to remain committed to their mandate, stressing the need for integrity and resistance to inducement.
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Also speaking, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, identified Kano as a critical frontline in the fight against counterfeit medicines. He disclosed that eight containers of suspected cloned drugs were recently intercepted, with Kano listed as the intended destination.
Chairman of the task force, Pharm. Kamilu Mudi-Salisu, pledged the committee’s readiness to tackle the menace and called on the public to report suspicious activities.
The committee includes representatives from the police, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, the Ministry of Justice, and other key regulatory bodies, reflecting a multi-agency approach to enforcement.
The move signals a stronger crackdown on fake drugs and unsafe food in Kano, as authorities intensify efforts to safeguard public health and restore confidence in regulated products.
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