Group condemns appointment of Adeyeye as NAFDAC DG

A group, Healthy Drugs Promoters Network (HEDPET), has condemned the recent appointment of Prof. Moji Christianah Adeyeye as the substantive Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

It said the appointment is insensitive to the condition of incessant drug abuse plaguing the northern part of the country.

At an emergency meeting held in Kano, with leadership from the 19 Northern states of the federation, the National Coordinator Mustapha Dogo Balarabe, said: “It is only understandable in such an appointment when a northerner, a core northerner for that matter is appointed as the DG of NAFDAC.”

To buttress his point, he said: “This menace of drug abuse is more prevalent in the Northern part of Nigeria, than in any other corner of our dear country. That is why we believe that the two fundamental organisations that deal with drugs directly should be under the headship of a northerner.

“These organisations are National Drugs Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and NAFDAC. Agreed that NDLEA is being headed by a northerner. Why is NAFDAC case treated differently?” he asked.

According to him, since all the 19 northern states came together to drastically deal with the lingering menace of drug abuse by youth and married women, therefore, the overall boss of NAFDAC should come from North.

According to Balarabe, a source said: “All the shortlisted candidates for the job, were all from the north. To show you that Presidency is well aware of who to chose to best fill in the position. But we were surprised when a different name, that wasn’t in the original list was announced.”

The group urges President Muhammadu Buhari, to look into the matter with a view to addressing the matter once and for all.

“All we are saying is, let the needful be done. If the fight against drug abuse is to be successful, the Presidency should change this arrangement.”