By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
MANIPULATIVE CLAIMS circulating on social media have drawn a swift rejoinder from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which has raised concerns over videos inciting traders at the Onitsha Bridge Head Market.
The agency warned that such incitement may breach the Cybercrime Act, urging security operatives and the public to remain vigilant.
The rejoinder follows a wave of online misinformation portraying NAFDAC’s regulatory actions as unlawful or exploitative.
In response, the agency reaffirmed the legality and necessity of its nationwide enforcement drive, which recently targeted three major Open Drug Markets—Idumota, Aba, and Onitsha—where banned, expired, and falsified drugs worth over one trillion naira were confiscated and destroyed.
From 9 February to 27 March 2025, NAFDAC carried out a series of raids to remove unregistered, diverted donation drugs, substandard medicines, and illicit narcotics from the pharmaceutical black market.
The affected warehouses and sales outlets failed to meet minimum standards of Good Storage and Distribution Practices and operated without registration from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria—an outright violation of national drug laws.
The agency clarified that all administrative charges imposed on violators were gazetted by the Federal Government and followed due process.
These include a ₦5 million charge for the sale of unregistered products—reduced to ₦200,000 after formal pleas—and a ₦2 million charge for violating storage and distribution regulations, later reduced to ₦500,000. NAFDAC firmly debunked speculation suggesting arbitrary or exploitative enforcement.
Reiterating its mandate, the agency assured Nigerians that all actions taken were in the public interest to prevent deaths linked to unsafe medicines.
The Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, stressed the importance of eliminating substandard drugs that endanger pregnant women, children, and patients with chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
NAFDAC declared its commitment to regulatory integrity and warned that attempts to politicise or undermine lawful enforcement would not be tolerated.
The agency encouraged citizens to seek verified information and avoid being swayed by content aimed at inciting unrest or obstructing public health efforts.
