From Doris Obinna
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has responded strongly to a recent social media video in which an influencer allegedly incited traders at the Onitsha Bridgehead Market against the federal government’s regulatory actions.
The agency described the statements made in the trending videos as misleading and potentially in violation of the Cybercrime Act.
NAFDAC, on Monday, May 26, in a statement issued by its Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, alerted both the public and security agencies to the actions of the influencer, emphasising the risks of such incitement, particularly in light of ongoing regulatory efforts to sanitise the pharmaceutical supply chain in Nigeria.
The statement further reads: “Between Friday, February 9, and Thursday, March 27, 2025, NAFDAC conducted a sweeping enforcement operation across three major open drug markets (ODMs) in Idumota, Aba, and Onitsha. During these operations, the agency confiscated and destroyed over one trillion naira worth of banned, expired, falsified, and substandard narcotic medicines.
“These actions targeted unregistered, diverted donation drugs, illicit controlled substances, and other unsafe pharmaceutical products being traded in unsafe environments.”
NAFDAC explained that all the premises in the affected markets failed to meet the minimum standards of Good Storage and Distribution Practices and were not registered with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), making their operations illegal under existing laws. The agency reaffirmed its mandate to regulate and control the importation, manufacture, distribution, and sale of food, drugs, cosmetics, and related products to safeguard public health.
The agency also cited the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Act, which prohibits the sale of drugs in places such as markets, kiosks, roadside stalls, and transportation vehicles. “To address the issue sustainably, state governments intervened and offered affected traders a moratorium to relocate to a Coordinated Warehouse Centre with improved regulatory oversight.
“Following the enforcement and compliance efforts, the Onitsha drug market was reopened on Sunday, March 9, 2025. More than 2,500 traders operating out of 3,500 shops have resumed business after complying with the required regulatory procedures.”
However, NAFDAC further noted that a small fraction of shop owners have refused to comply, and these shops have been linked to the sale of outrightly banned narcotics.
The agency accused this group, along with their alleged collaborators, of orchestrating social media campaigns to deflect attention and undermine regulatory authority. NAFDAC warned that those responsible for distributing fake medicines and fuelling insecurity would be prosecuted under the law.
Addressing the social media influencer at the centre of the controversy, the agency stated that his encouragement to defy NAFDAC’s regulatory processes could amount to a criminal offence. Law enforcement agencies have been called upon to determine whether his actions constitute a legal violation.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all medical products circulating in Nigeria are safe, effective, and of high quality. The agency pledged to continue monitoring regulated commodities to protect the health and lives of Nigerians, especially vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, and people with chronic diseases.