By Seun Ibiyemi
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismissed as false a viral video circulating on social media alleging that the agency secretly banned the sale and use of Amoxicillin in Nigeria.
In a statement issued by the Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC clarified that it has neither secretly nor openly prohibited the antibiotic, stressing that the claim is “false and devoid of any factual basis.”
The agency explained that as a responsible regulatory authority, it communicates all regulatory actions through official channels, including recalls, safety alerts, and blacklists.
According to NAFDAC, such notices clearly state the affected product names, batch numbers, manufacturers, and the required measures to guide healthcare providers and patients in making informed treatment decisions.
NAFDAC noted that while it has issued targeted safety alerts on certain brands and batches of Amoxicillin in recent months, these actions should not be misconstrued as a blanket ban on the drug.
The agency recalled that in August 2025, Public Alert No. 24/2025 announced the recall of Amoxivue (Amoxicillin) 500mg capsules due to low Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) content.
Similarly, Public Alert No. 34/2025, issued in October 2025, flagged substandard batches of Astamocil and Astamentin suspensions, while Public Alert No. 35/2025 raised concerns over substandard batches of Annmox and Jawamox suspensions.
“These actions were specific to identified products and do not constitute a ban on Amoxicillin,” the agency emphasized.
NAFDAC urged members of the public to disregard the misleading video and rely only on verified recalls and safety alerts published on its official website for accurate information.
Reaffirming its commitment to public safety, the agency stated that it will continue to safeguard public health through transparent, science-based regulatory measures while ensuring that Nigerians are promptly informed of any developments affecting medicines and other regulated products.