NAFDAC Launches Kano Task Force to Combat Fake Drugs and Unsafe Food Products

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated a seven-member task force in Kano State to intensify the fight against fake drugs, counterfeit products, and unsafe food items in circulation.

The initiative was announced during a ceremony addressed by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, who was represented by the agency’s Director for the North-West Zone, Kaduna, Fraden Nantim-Mullah.

According to Adeyeye, the task force will operate under NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate as part of efforts to strengthen regulatory compliance and protect public health.

She warned that the circulation of counterfeit drugs and unsafe food products poses serious risks to public health, undermines confidence in the healthcare system, and threatens national development if not urgently addressed.

Kano State, being a major commercial hub, was identified as particularly vulnerable to the distribution of substandard and falsified products across its markets and neighbouring regions.

The task force is expected to carry out intelligence gathering, surveillance operations, enforcement raids, seizure of illegal goods, arrests, and prosecution of offenders. It will also engage in public awareness campaigns to educate residents on the dangers of fake products.

Speaking at the event, the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Umar Ibrahim, said the initiative was timely, especially amid rising concerns over drug abuse and the circulation of counterfeit medicines, particularly among young people.

He noted that drug addiction remains a growing social challenge in the state, urging stronger collaboration between federal and state authorities while warning against interference from vested interests.

The newly appointed Chairman of the task force, Kamilu Mudi-Salisu, pledged the committee’s readiness to intensify enforcement actions, including raids, seizures, and prosecution of offenders in line with existing laws.

Authorities have also urged members of the public to support the initiative by reporting suspicious activities and helping to curb the spread of unsafe products in their communities.

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