The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has inaugurated a seven-member task force in Kano State to curb the circulation of fake, counterfeit and unwholesome food products and drugs, in a move aimed at strengthening regulatory enforcement and protecting public health.
Speaking during the inauguration, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the initiative as a strategic intervention to tackle the menace of substandard regulated products.
Represented by the agency’s North-West Zone Director, Kaduna, Fraden Nantim-Mullah, Adeyeye said the task force would operate under NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate as a federal operational arm.
She warned that counterfeit medicines and unsafe foods pose grave threats to public health, weaken trust in the healthcare system and could undermine national development and economic stability if left unchecked.
“Kano’s status as a major commercial hub makes it vulnerable to the manufacture, importation and distribution of substandard and falsified products across local and regional markets,” she said.
According to her, the committee will focus on intelligence gathering, surveillance, enforcement operations, seizure of illegal products, arrest and prosecution of offenders, as well as public sensitisation to stem the spread of fake products.
She urged members of the task force to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, professionalism and courage.
“This initiative is critical to safeguarding public health and ensuring compliance with national regulatory standards,” she added.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Umar Ibrahim, said the constitution of the task force had become necessary amid growing concerns over drug abuse and the proliferation of counterfeit products in the state.
He noted that drug addiction remains a major social challenge, especially among youths, who make up over 70 per cent of Kano’s population.
“Recent reports of families seeking rehabilitation for their children reflect the urgent need to disrupt supply chains of fake drugs and unwholesome products across the state,” Ibrahim said.
He called for sustained collaboration between federal and state authorities, warning against interference from vested interests that could weaken enforcement operations.
Ibrahim charged members of the task force to carry out their duties without fear or favour and prioritise public health at all times.
Chairman of the task force, Kamilu Mudi-Salisu, pledged the committee’s readiness to tackle the circulation of fake drugs and unsafe food products across the state.
He urged residents to support the initiative by reporting suspicious activities in their communities.
Mudi-Salisu said the task force had been empowered to conduct raids, seize illegal products, seal premises and prosecute offenders in line with extant laws and regulations.
The seven-member committee has Mudi-Salisu, Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Kano State Ministry of Health, as chairman, while Kasim Ibrahim, Coordinator of the NAFDAC Kano Office, will serve as secretary.
