Veteran Nollywood actress Ngozi Ezeonu has appealed to manufacturers and sellers of counterfeit drugs and other fake products to stop putting Nigerians’ lives at risk for profit.
In a video shared on Instagram, the actress expressed concern over the number of people battling serious health problems and deaths that she believes may be linked to the use of substandard or counterfeit medications.
Ezeonu urged those involved in the production and distribution of fake drugs to consider the consequences of their actions, warning that the harm could eventually affect their own relatives or even themselves.
She said people who fall seriously ill often depend on hospitals and prescribed medication, but taking ineffective or harmful drugs could leave them even worse than before.
“There’s something I want to talk about this morning. It’s something that is really giving me a lot of concern. I don’t know if any of you have gone to any hospital recently. You will see our youths dying,” she said.
Ezeonu said some patients are dealing with kidney and liver problems and questioned whether medication could be contributing to some of the illnesses.
“Most times, I don’t think it is their lifestyle. Most times, it is probably the medication,” she said.
She described the production of fake drugs and other counterfeit products as a danger that could affect anyone, regardless of wealth or social status.
“Let us not be our own enemies. I know we have to get money, be rich, but not at the detriment of innocent lives,” the actress said.
Ezeonu also appealed to wealthy Nigerians involved in the production or sale of fake medical products to consider the difference between their access to overseas healthcare and the situation faced by ordinary citizens who cannot afford to travel abroad for treatment.
She questioned how such individuals would feel if they or their loved ones became victims of counterfeit products.
“What would you gain when people die because you have to make money? It’s paining me. We shouldn’t be our own enemies. We should value lives,” she said.
The actress specifically called on people involved in making counterfeit medicines, injections and other medical products to stop.
“Please, if you are one of the people who are making these fake drugs, please stop. People are dying; our children are dying. Let us not waste our lives,” she added.
Ezeonu Appeals to Authorities
The actress also urged government agencies responsible for regulating goods and consumer safety to strengthen checks on the quality of food, medicines and other products being sold in Nigerian markets.
She said authorities should not treat the issue as merely political because the consequences of poor regulation could affect officials and their families as well.
“And to the authorities, it’s not just politics. We are the ones you are governing. Do you people check the standards of what people eat these days? Nobody knows,” she said.
Ezeonu’s comments came days after fellow actress Ruth Kadiri called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to increase inspections and impose swift sanctions on people involved in producing and selling counterfeit products.
On Tuesday, NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye also said many Nigerians are not sufficiently informed about food safety and often fail to read or understand relevant information and guidelines.
Adeyeye further clarified that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, rather than NAFDAC, has primary responsibility for regulating fresh produce.
