The association also wants the agency to strengthen inspections of shops, markets and businesses operating around tertiary institutions and student residential areas. It said products found to be unsafe should be subject to public warnings, recalls and appropriate legal action.

NANS made the requests in an open letter addressed to NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, on Friday, October 16, 2026. The letter was signed by the association’s Director of Health, Augustine Onovughegor.

The students’ body said concerns raised by campus health centres, teaching hospitals and student communities had prompted calls for closer monitoring of products commonly consumed by young Nigerians.

It cited concerns including kidney and liver complications, seizures, gastrointestinal infections, foodborne illnesses and suspected chemical poisoning. However, the letter did not provide specific case data establishing that these conditions were caused by contaminated products or substandard medicines.

NANS expressed concern about what it described as an insufficient visible response to the potential risks, arguing that protecting public health should remain a priority despite possible resource limitations.

The association proposed a series of measures, including risk-based inspections of businesses around campuses, random testing of consumer products and prompt public communication when potentially dangerous items are identified. It also called for the prosecution of manufacturers and distributors found to be supplying substandard, falsified or unsafe products, in accordance with the law.

Beyond enforcement, NANS urged NAFDAC to work with its health directorate and campus clinics to improve the reporting of suspected adverse reactions to medicines and illnesses potentially linked to contaminated food.

The association also recommended a publicly accessible database of registered products, better systems for checking product batches and more consumer education to help students recognise counterfeit medicines and potentially unsafe food and drinks.

NANS said a coordinated approach involving regulators, healthcare providers and educational institutions was necessary to protect students and improve product safety around campuses.

The call places renewed attention on the importance of effective regulatory monitoring, reliable product verification and timely public health warnings. However, the health concerns cited by the association should be investigated before individual products or suppliers are linked to specific illnesses.