The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised alarm over Nigeria’s severe shortage of mental health professionals, revealing that only about 300 psychiatrists currently serve the country’s population of over 200 million people.

Speaking at the 3rd Vanguard Mental Health Summit in Lagos, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said weak regulation, limited access to safe psychiatric medicines, and rising drug misuse are deepening Nigeria’s mental health crisis.

Adeyeye, represented by the Director of Narcotics and Controlled Substances, Dr. Ramatu Momodu, noted that the country records an estimated 16,000 suicide deaths annually, many of which are preventable with early intervention and access to approved treatment.

She stressed that stronger regulation of psychotropic and antidepressant drugs is vital to restoring public trust and preventing abuse.

“Regulation is not just policy; it is protection, prevention, and preservation of life,” Adeyeye said. “Strong oversight ensures safe, effective medicines reach the public and helps reduce preventable deaths.”

The NAFDAC boss called for tighter inter-agency collaboration with the NDLEA, Ministry of Health, WHO, and UNODC, faster approval of WHO-prequalified drugs, and expanded digital surveillance of medicine sales.

Adeyeye also emphasised the importance of public education to reduce stigma and promote mental health as a basic human right.