Nollywood actress Mary Remmy Njoku has publicly challenged the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, over her recent comments regarding food safety in Nigeria. Njoku's remarks came on October 6, 2026, via her Instagram account, where she expressed her discontent with Adeyeye's stance that consumers bear responsibility for understanding food labels.

In an interview with BusinessDay, Adeyeye had stated that many Nigerians are "ignorant" of NAFDAC's responsibilities, suggesting that the agency's role is limited to regulating processed and semi-processed food items. She also indicated that the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the broader food supply chain. Adeyeye further criticized consumers for not reading labels, framing this as a significant factor contributing to the proliferation of fake and substandard food products in the market.

Mary Remmy Njoku, however, took issue with this perspective, asserting that it is inappropriate for NAFDAC to shift the burden of food safety onto ordinary Nigerians. In her Instagram post, she questioned the effectiveness of NAFDAC in fulfilling its regulatory duties, highlighting issues such as weak inspection, inadequate testing, and poor enforcement as critical challenges that need addressing.

Njoku wrote, "Madam NAFDAC !! Stop shifting the burden to consumers. We cannot READ our way out of weak inspection, inadequate testing and poor enforcement. Are you effectively regulating processed and semi-processed foods? Are you? ARE YOU?" Her comments reflect a growing frustration among the public regarding the perceived inadequacies of food safety regulations in Nigeria.

The actress emphasized that the discussion should not solely focus on consumer literacy but rather on the agency's responsibility to protect public health. She urged NAFDAC to take its regulatory role seriously, stating, "This isn't about whether Nigerians READ labels. This is about whether the regulator is REGULATING. This is public health. Please, STOP DEFLECTING !!!!! Protect the public! Hear the cry of the people you have been called to serve!"

Njoku's remarks resonate with many Nigerians who have raised concerns about the safety of food products available in the market. The call for improved enforcement and accountability from NAFDAC comes at a time when the agency is under scrutiny for its handling of food safety issues, particularly in light of the increasing circulation of counterfeit and substandard food items.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how NAFDAC will respond to these criticisms and what steps will be taken to enhance food safety standards in Nigeria.