By Precious Mark
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced on Monday the immediate, indefinite blacklisting of Onifam Laboratories Ltd, following extensive investigations that exposed severe regulatory violations by the pharmaceutical firm.
The sweeping enforcement action directly targets the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, all of its directors, and any affiliated persons or entities found to have participated in the illicit operations.
Regulatory investigations established that the firm actively engaged in deliberate misrepresentation, the misuse of official NAFDAC approvals and certificates, and the improper registration and transfer of pharmaceutical products.
NAFDAC stated that these underhanded activities were specifically designed to circumvent established regulatory processes, a move that severely compromises product traceability, weakens corporate accountability, and poses significant risks to public health.
The severe infractions directly violate the NAFDAC Act, the Food, Drug and Related Products Act, and the Drug and Related Products Registration Regulations.
An official release from the regulatory body confirmed that the affected company and its associates are prohibited from participating, either directly or indirectly, in any pharmaceutical business within Nigeria.
This legal restriction stops the individuals from applying for or benefiting from any NAFDAC registrations, licences, permits, or certificates.
They are also barred from operating as manufacturers, importers, distributors, or marketing authorization holders for any regulated products.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, noted that the strict blacklist will remain in force until otherwise directed by the agency’s management.
The agency also reserved the right to take further administrative, enforcement, and legal actions to preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s medicines regulatory system.
Adeyeye reiterated the agency’s unyielding commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety compliance, urging all stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector to adhere strictly to applicable laws to ensure only safe, quality medical products reach the Nigerian public.