By BONIFACE AKARAH

Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria, while calling for the removal of the heads of regulatory agencies including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

Adeyanju made the call in a statement on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, arguing that the growing prevalence of fake and substandard products showed what he described as a serious failure of regulation in critical sectors.

He said Nigerians were being exposed to potentially dangerous products on a daily basis, particularly counterfeit and substandard medicines and unsafe consumer goods.

“The alarming prevalence of counterfeit and substandard drugs and other consumer products in Nigeria points to a complete collapse of regulation in critical sectors,” Adeyanju said.

He expressed particular concern over the reported sale of drugs in the open under the hot sun, warning that such practices could expose consumers to serious health risks.

“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun,” he stated.

Adeyanju argued that the situation demanded urgent presidential intervention, saying the government could not expose citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to increase.

“No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise,” he said.

The activist also criticised NAFDAC, saying the agency appeared unable to effectively contain the spread of fake and substandard products. He extended the criticism to SON and other regulatory bodies charged with protecting consumers.

Adeyanju consequently called on President Tinubu to remove the heads of the affected agencies and appoint what he described as competent leadership capable of restoring effective regulation and enforcement.

“The President must be alive to his responsibility and act decisively by removing the Director-General of NAFDAC and the heads of other failed regulatory agencies, including SON, and appointing competent leadership capable of restoring effective regulation and enforcement,” he said.

He further called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s regulatory system alongside the declaration of a state of emergency on counterfeit and substandard drugs and products.

“The Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency on the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and products and undertake a comprehensive review of the country’s regulatory system,” Adeyanju said.

He warned that Nigerians should not continue to bear the consequences of what he described as regulatory failure.

“Nigerians cannot continue to pay with their lives for regulatory failure,” he added.