Molecular geneticist and public health advocate Dr. Ify Aniebo Rhodes-Vivour has called for an end to what she described as a dangerous conflict of interest in the operations of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
In a post on her official X account on Saturday, she said, “NAFDAC should not be a regulatory agency and also a revenue generation agency. Doing so creates a conflict of interest that can undermine the agency’s core mission: to protect public health by ensuring the safety and quality of food, drugs, and other regulated products.”
Her statement has ignited widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians backing her position. Some argued that the agency’s ability to regulate impartially is compromised when it also has to meet revenue targets.
Photo Credit: Grand challenges exploration
“Absolutely. A regulator’s primary role is to enforce rules impartially to protect public interest, while a revenue-generating agency is incentivized to maximize income.” @therealdaddymo1 commented. “When roles are combined, there’s a risk that enforcement decisions may be driven by the desire to collect more money rather than uphold standards.”
Others extended the criticism to other federal bodies. User @ayemojubar noted that “the same should apply to all govt agencies, as seen in the conflicts of interest that have already undermined the core functions of JAMB, Customs, NIMC, and many others.”
Some commenters linked the problem to Tinubu’s revenue drive, accusing the government of prioritizing internally generated revenue (IGR) over public welfare. “All agencies has been turned to revenue-generating agencies, including those who ought to be humanitarian, health, and safety,” wrote @Mykoladoo. “Enough money to share among the elites while a large number of the populace wallow in penury and their heath at risk.”
While a few users, like @settatam, pointed out that similar practices exist abroad, most agreed with Rhodes-Vivour that NAFDAC’s core mandate should remain protecting consumers from unsafe products without financial incentives influencing its actions.
Follow the Parallel Facts channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
