Abuja, Nigeria – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has firmly dismissed circulating claims that it has imposed a ban—either secretly or publicly—on the sale and use of Amoxicillin in Nigeria, describing the viral video spreading the allegation as completely false and lacking any factual basis.
In an official statement issued on Monday and signed by the Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC emphasized that the agency has not prohibited Amoxicillin, a widely used and essential antibiotic, at any level. The clarification comes in response to a misleading social media video that has gained significant traction in recent days, causing public confusion and concern among patients, healthcare providers, and pharmacists.
“NAFDAC has not banned Amoxicillin in Nigeria, either secretly or openly,” Professor Adeyeye stated. “As a responsible regulatory authority, the Agency publicly notifies Nigerians of any regulatory actions through official channels.”
She stressed that NAFDAC maintains a transparent and systematic process for communicating safety concerns, recalls, blacklisting, or any other regulatory interventions. These notifications are disseminated through official Recalls, Safety Alerts, Blacklists, and other public safety notices, all of which clearly specify the affected product names, batch numbers, manufacturers, and recommended actions.
“These communications provide critical information that may impact treatment and diagnostic decisions for healthcare providers and patients,” Adeyeye explained. “Blacklisting, where applicable, involves prohibiting specific companies from the sale, distribution, or use of their products due to safety concerns, regulatory violations, or unethical practices.”
The Director General pointed out that recent regulatory actions involving Amoxicillin products were targeted and product-specific, not indicative of a blanket ban on the active pharmaceutical ingredient or the drug class as a whole. She cited three recent public alerts as examples:
- In August 2025, Public Alert No. 24/2025 announced the recall of Amoxivue (Amoxicillin) 500mg capsules due to low Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) content, which rendered the product substandard and ineffective.
- In October 2025, Public Alert No. 34/2025 addressed substandard batches of Astamocil and Astamentin suspensions.
- Also in October 2025, Public Alert No. 35/2025 notified the public of substandard batches of Annmox and Jawamox suspensions.
Professor Adeyeye clarified that these measures were limited to the identified substandard or falsified batches and brands. They do not affect the overall availability, registration, or legitimate use of Amoxicillin products manufactured and distributed in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and NAFDAC registration requirements.
Amoxicillin remains one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics in Nigeria and globally, used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including respiratory tract infections, ear infections, urinary tract infections, and skin infections. The agency reiterated that only specific defective batches have been subject to recall or restriction, and that compliant, quality-assured versions continue to be available through licensed pharmacies and healthcare facilities.
The Director General urged members of the public, healthcare professionals, and pharmacists to disregard the misleading video and to rely exclusively on verified information from NAFDAC’s official channels. All recalls, safety alerts, blacklists, and regulatory updates are published on the agency’s official website (www.nafdac.gov.ng) and disseminated through its verified social media handles and other communication platforms.
“NAFDAC remains committed to safeguarding public health through transparent, science-based, and evidence-driven regulatory actions,” Adeyeye affirmed. “We encourage all stakeholders to verify information before sharing or acting on it, especially in matters that affect health and treatment decisions.”
The clarification is expected to help restore confidence in the continued availability of Amoxicillin while reinforcing the importance of sourcing medicines only from registered outlets and checking batch numbers against NAFDAC’s published alerts.
Pharmacists and healthcare providers have been advised to remain vigilant for substandard or falsified medicines and to report any suspected issues directly to NAFDAC through its established reporting channels, including the agency’s toll-free pharmacovigilance line.
NAFDAC’s swift response underscores its ongoing efforts to combat misinformation, protect the integrity of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain, and ensure that patients have access to safe, effective, and quality-assured medicines.
