The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has denounced misleading social media campaigns inciting traders at Onitsha Bridge Head Market against federal regulatory reforms, warning that such actions may violate Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to sanitizing open drug markets, citing recent nationwide raids between February and March 2025 that led to the seizure and destruction of banned, expired, and substandard medicines worth over ₦1 trillion in Idumota (Lagos), Aba (Abia), and Onitsha (Anambra).
NAFDAC disclosed that inspections revealed widespread noncompliance with Good Storage and Distribution Practices (GSDP) and illegal operations by unregistered outlets, prompting regulatory sanctions. Initial fines of ₦5 million for unregistered products and ₦2 million for GSDP violations were reduced to ₦200,000 and ₦500,000, respectively, following appeals. The agency emphasized that penalties align with gazetted federal regulations and apply uniformly across markets.
Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye stressed NAFDAC’s mandate to protect vulnerable populations—including pregnant women and children—by ensuring only safe, quality medicines circulate. She vowed to resist attempts to undermine reforms, stating, “NAFDAC will not be deterred in safeguarding public health.”
