ABUJA, March 6 (AGCNewsNet) – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has rejected the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control’s (NAFDAC) proposal to impose the death penalty on those involved in the sale of counterfeit drugs.

NHRC Executive Secretary Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, raised concerns about balancing harsh penalties with human rights standards while presenting the commission’s dashboard report on Wednesday. He also highlighted recent laws in Edo and Anambra States imposing severe punishments, including the death penalty, for crimes such as cultism and kidnapping.

In its report, the NHRC recorded over 205,000 human rights complaints, with violations by state actors remaining a significant issue. The commission also flagged growing economic and social rights violations, emphasizing the need for better access to food, housing, healthcare, and education.

Additionally, the NHRC approved a Child Safeguarding Policy to combat rising cases of child abandonment and called for stronger child protection measures following recent tragic incidents.

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