The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has urged for stronger and more transparent regulation of psychotropic medicines to strengthen public confidence and improve access to mental health care in Nigeria.
Speaking at Vanguard’s 3rd Mental Health Summit held on Friday, the 17th of October, 2025, in Lagos, Adeyeye highlighted the importance of effective oversight in mental health service delivery. She said ensuring strict control of psychotropic substances is crucial in preventing misuse and guaranteeing that Nigerians have access to safe and reliable medicines.
She said, “Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stress of life. NAFDAC’s mission goes beyond regulation; it’s about protecting lives.”
Adeyeye described mental health as a fundamental right for every Nigerian, stressing that no one should be deprived of care or made to feel ashamed for seeking help.
“Mental health is a basic human right every Nigerian is entitled to it,” she added.
The NAFDAC DG expressed concern that stigma continues to hinder people from seeking proper mental health care, despite the availability of effective medication.
“People run away from drugs for mental illness because of stigma. There are drugs for depression, anxiety and others along the line,” she said.
Adeyeye cautioned that weak regulatory systems could worsen drug misuse, while effective regulation would improve safety and strengthen trust in mental health services.
“Poor regulations can lead to drug abuse and misuse. Strong regulation ensures safety,” she said.
She also called for collaboration among all sectors in advancing drug control and mental health advocacy.
“Collaboration is key across sectors. We all work together to fulfil the mandate of the nation to stop drug abuse. NAFDAC has a programme called Catch Them Young. Beyond going to different places like this, we go to schools across the states of the country to train children. That way, every child becomes an ambassador to talk about drug abuse, talk about stigmatisation, and work with faith-based organisations to create a stigma-free environment for mental health awareness,” she explained.
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Adeyeye said engaging young people and normalising conversations about mental health would help create a stronger and more supportive society.
She reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to safeguarding lives through transparent, science-based regulation and sustained collaboration with partners in both public and private sectors to ensure safe access to psychotropic medicines nationwide.
Mental health remains one of Nigeria’s least addressed public health issues. Conditions like depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma, and bipolar disorder continue to rise. According to the World Health Organisation, about one in four Nigerians roughly 50 million people live with some form of mental illness, yet less than 10 per cent receive treatment.
For many, mental illness is still viewed as a moral failing or spiritual problem. Fear of discrimination keeps people silent, while lack of affordable treatment, particularly outside major cities, deepens the crisis.
Adeyeye’s call serves as a reminder that mental health care in Nigeria requires not just awareness, but a firm commitment to ending stigma, improving regulation, and ensuring every Nigerian can access the help they need.