The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has set up a seven-member task force in Kano State to combat the circulation of counterfeit drugs and substandard food products.
Speaking at the inauguration on Tuesday, the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the initiative forms part of efforts to strengthen regulatory enforcement and safeguard public health.
Adeyeye, represented by the NAFDAC Director for the North-West Zone in Kaduna, Fraden Nantim-Mullah, explained that the task force would operate under the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate as a federal operational unit.
She warned that the proliferation of fake drugs and unsafe food items poses serious health risks, undermines confidence in the healthcare system, and threatens national development.
Highlighting Kano’s role as a major commercial hub, she noted that the state is particularly vulnerable to the production, importation, and distribution of counterfeit products across regional markets.
The DG said the task force would focus on intelligence gathering, surveillance, enforcement operations, seizure of illicit products, arrest and prosecution of offenders, as well as public sensitisation.
She urged members of the committee to carry out their duties with professionalism, integrity, and courage.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Umar Ibrahim, said the move was necessary to address rising cases of drug abuse and the spread of counterfeit products in the state.
He expressed concern over the growing rate of drug addiction among youths, who make up a significant proportion of the population, stressing the need to dismantle supply chains of fake drugs.
Ibrahim called for sustained collaboration between federal and state authorities and warned against interference that could hinder enforcement efforts.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the task force, Kamilu Mudi-Salisu, assured that the committee would be committed to tackling the menace of fake drugs and unsafe food products.
He urged residents to support the initiative by reporting suspicious activities, adding that the task force has the mandate to conduct raids, seize illegal products, seal premises, and prosecute offenders in line with existing laws.
Mudi-Salisu, who is the Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Kano State Ministry of Health, will lead the committee, while the Coordinator of the NAFDAC Kano Office, Kasim Ibrahim, will serve as secretary.
