The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a stern warning regarding misleading and inciting statements made by a social media influencer about the government’s recent actions at Onitsha’s Bridge Head Market.
In a statement, NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, alerted security authorities to the potential violation of the Cybercrime Act, expressing concerns over attempts to incite traders against regulatory enforcement activities.
Adeyeye emphasized that the agency’s nationwide crackdown on open drug markets, including raids in Idumota, Aba, and Onitsha, was essential to remove banned, expired, and falsified narcotics worth over a trillion naira.
The operations, conducted between February 9 and March 27, 2025, targeted warehouses, shops, and stalls that failed to comply with Good Storage and Distribution Practices and lacked registration from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN).
The statement highlighted: “NAFDAC has been made aware of misleading information circulating on social media that incites traders at Onitsha Bridge Head Market. This incitement may violate the Cybercrime Act.”
Adeyeye noted that during the enforcement operations, significant quantities of unregistered and expired drugs were removed and destroyed. Fines were imposed on offenders, including a ₦5 million penalty for selling unregistered drugs, which could be reduced upon appeal.
“We assure the public that these actions are based on federal regulations. NAFDAC remains committed to ensuring that all medical products—medicines, vaccines, and medical devices—are of high quality and safe for use in Nigeria,” Adeyeye stated.
She urged the public to disregard misinformation and support NAFDAC’s efforts to ensure safe drug distribution, reiterating the agency’s dedication to protecting lives and improving public health.
