Fraud at NAFDAC: Rights group urges EFCC to investigate missing N500m

“loss of N500m is a significant sum of public funds, its unacceptable and requires immediate action”

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

An anti-corruption advocacy group, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the missing of ₦500 million from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

This demand follows a recent disclosure by NAFDAC’s Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, who revealed on Channels Television that upon taking office, she inherited a staggering ₦3.2 billion debt and found an additional ₦500 million missing and unaccounted for.

HEDA, In a press statement signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, expressed deep concern over the financial mismanagement within NAFDAC, particularly in light of Nigeria’s current economic difficulties. The organization stressed that the loss of such a significant sum of public funds is unacceptable and requires immediate action.

“With the nation facing severe economic challenges, it is crucial that every naira is accounted for,” Suraju stated. “The Federal Government must ensure that those responsible for this financial misconduct are held accountable. Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable, especially in critical agencies like NAFDAC.”

The advocacy group further urged the relevant authorities to expedite the investigation, recover the missing funds, and prosecute those involved. The organization further called on the Federal Government to strengthen its anti-corruption measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, warning that corruption continues to pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s development and the well-being of its citizens.