NANS urges NAFDAC to test drugs, food sold on campuses

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to conduct random laboratory tests on drugs, food, drinks, and packaged water sold around tertiary institutions. According to Daily Post Nigeria, the association's demands were made in a letter to NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye on Friday, October 16, 2026. The letter was signed by NANS Director of Health, Augustine Onovughegor.

NANS stated that reports from student communities, teaching hospitals, and campus health centres have raised concerns regarding the safety of products consumed by young Nigerians. The association linked potential health problems—including gastrointestinal infections, foodborne illnesses, seizure disorders, suspected chemical poisoning, and kidney and liver complications—to the possible exposure to toxic substances, unregulated additives, contaminated food, and falsified or substandard medicines.

Daily Post Nigeria reports that the students' body also urged the regulatory agency to increase surveillance of shops and markets near university campuses and student residential areas. NANS further requested that NAFDAC issue public alerts and recall unsafe products when necessary, while criticizing the regulator for what it described as an inadequate visible response. Punch and Punch Nigeria also reported that the association requested testing of drugs, food, and drinks on campuses due to potential health risks.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch, Daily Post Nigeria, Punch Nigeria — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.