The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken action against a social media influencer who alleged that NAFDAC staff were extorting traders at the Onitsha Bridge Head Market. The agency has reported the influencer to relevant security agencies for potential prosecution, citing possible violations of the Cybercrime Act.
In a statement issued by NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency strongly disputed the influencer’s claims, urging the public to cooperate with it in combating the distribution of counterfeit and substandard medical products. The agency recently undertook enforcement operations in Onitsha and Lagos, resulting in the removal and destruction of illegal narcotic medicines estimated to be worth over a trillion Naira.
The influencer’s video, which went viral, claimed that NAFDAC officials were demanding payment from traders—up to 700,000 Naira—to have their shops reopened and seized goods returned. In her response, Adeyeye clarified that the enforcement actions were necessary due to rampant violations of regulations governing drug distribution in the market.
NAFDAC emphasized that its operations followed thorough inspections of various markets, including Idumota and Aba, and were aimed at ridding the market of unregulated and potentially harmful products. The agency highlighted that many shops in these markets failed to meet necessary storage and distribution standards and lacked registration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.
Amidst these recent events, traders were allowed a grace period to relocate to a Coordinated Warehouse Centre to monitor their activities more effectively. As of March 9, 2025, operations resumed for over 2,500 traders who complied with regulatory procedures, though some shops owned by individuals accused of selling banned narcotics have yet to identify themselves.
NAFDAC’s statement underscored its unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of medical products and protecting the public from the dangers posed by counterfeit medicines. The agency will work with law enforcement to determine if the influencer’s statements constitute incitement against its regulatory efforts.
Over thr weekend, Vincent Otse, a social media influencer publicly known as VeryDarkMan was seen in a video with some persons who identified as traders at the Onitsha drug market making allegations against some NAFDAC officials.