The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated a Kano State Task Force Committee to intensify the fight against fake, counterfeit, and unwholesome food and drug products.
Speaking at the inauguration in Kano on Tuesday, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye—represented by the agency’s Director in the North-West Zone, Mr. Fraden Nantim-Mullah—said the initiative is a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening enforcement operations and safeguarding public health.
She explained that the task force operates under NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate as a federal operational unit mandated to curb the circulation of substandard regulated products. Adeyeye warned that counterfeit drugs and unsafe foods pose severe risks to public health, weaken confidence in the healthcare system, and threaten national economic stability if not urgently addressed.
According to her, Kano’s position as a major commercial hub makes it highly vulnerable to the circulation of falsified and substandard products across local and regional markets. She outlined the task force’s responsibilities to include intelligence gathering, surveillance, enforcement raids, seizure of illegal goods, arrests, prosecution of offenders, and public awareness campaigns.
She further noted that the initiative is backed by the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Act, which empowers authorities to take decisive legal action against violators nationwide. She urged members to carry out their duties with integrity, professionalism, and courage.
The Kano State Secretary to the Government, Umar Farouk-Ibrahim, described the reconstitution of the task force as necessary in addressing rising cases of drug abuse and counterfeit products in the state. He noted that young people, who make up over 60 percent of the population, are particularly vulnerable to illicit substances.
He also warned that recent cases of families seeking rehabilitation for children reflect the urgency of dismantling supply chains of fake drugs and unsafe products. He assured full government support while urging members to resist inducement and external interference.
Pharm. Kamilu Mudi-Salisu was announced as Chairman of the committee, with representatives from the police, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Ministry of Justice, and other agencies as members. Mr. Kassim Idrissa-Ibrahim will serve as Secretary, while Sani A. Abdulkadir will act as Co-Secretary.
NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, described Kano as a critical hub in the national fight against counterfeit medicines, warning that many fake drugs in circulation contain little or no active ingredients, leading to avoidable deaths.
He disclosed that eight containers of cloned medicines were recently intercepted, allegedly destined for distribution in Kano markets, and called for stronger inter-agency cooperation to sustain enforcement efforts.
The newly appointed Chairman of the task force, Mr. Mudi-Salisu, pledged commitment to reducing the circulation of fake drugs and unsafe foods, urging residents to support by reporting suspicious activities. He affirmed that the task force is empowered to conduct raids, seal premises, seize illegal goods, and prosecute offenders in line with the law.
