NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, laughed when a journalist asked when she would resign. The question came amid fresh criticism over fake and substandard products in Nigeria. Adeyeye faced the question during a media briefing in Lagos on Monday, September 7. The moment quickly caught attention online, as Nigerians debated her reaction and leadership record.
Rather than announce plans to leave, Adeyeye defended her achievements at NAFDAC. She also questioned why critics wanted her removed. According to her, she returned to Nigeria after about 34 years in the United States. She spent 30 of those years as a professor.
“I came here to serve,” she said.
Adeyeye added that she did not return to enrich herself.
Meanwhile, she highlighted the challenges she met at NAFDAC in 2017. She said the agency had about ₦3.2 billion in liabilities at the time. Its laboratories and information technology systems also needed major upgrades. Adeyeye said NAFDAC later improved its regulatory standing. The agency reached maturity level three in 2022. She then gave a blunt response to the resignation question.
“So that question, ‘When are you going to resign?’ I hope you got the answer?”
However, the controversy comes as Nigerians raise fresh concerns about fake products. NAFDAC received 225 complaints about suspected counterfeit products in August alone. The agency also removed 7,210 fake and non-compliant products during surveillance between May and July 2026. Since 2023, NAFDAC says it has seized or destroyed fake products worth over ₦1.54 trillion.
Despite these figures, critics want stronger action against counterfeit products. Adeyeye has however made it clear that she has no plans to resign.
