NAFDAC Warns Against Social Media Incitement Over Drug Market Crackdown

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned the public against a “misleading and inciting” statement made by a social media influencer in response to the Federal Government’s enforcement actions at the Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, Anambra State.

According to NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency views the influencer’s statement as a potential violation of the Cybercrime Act, urging security agencies to investigate and act accordingly.

This comes on the heels of a large-scale operation carried out by NAFDAC between February 9 and March 27, 2025, targeting open drug markets in Idumota (Lagos), Aba, and Onitsha. The agency said it seized and destroyed over ₦1 trillion worth of expired, banned, falsified, and unregistered medicines.

NAFDAC explained that the targeted warehouses and shops failed to meet Good Storage and Distribution Practices and were unregistered with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, a clear breach of national regulations.

Administrative penalties were also imposed on violators, including ₦5 million fines for selling unregistered drugs (later reduced to ₦200,000 upon appeal) and ₦2 million for improper storage (reduced to ₦500,000).

Refuting speculation that these fines were arbitrary, Adeyeye clarified that the penalties were gazetted charges sanctioned by the Federal Government. She stressed that the enforcement was aimed at protecting public health, especially among vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, children, and individuals living with chronic illnesses.

Adeyeye called on the public to disregard misinformation and continue supporting regulatory efforts to sanitise the drug distribution system in Nigeria, reiterating NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring that all medical products in the country are safe, effective, and of high quality.