A National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismissed a claim on social media that it secretly banned the sale and use of Amoxicillin in Nigeria, describing it as false and devoid of any factual basis.

In a statement on Monday signed by the Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC said as a responsible regulatory authority, it usually notifies Nigerians of any regulatory actions through official channels. The agency said it alerts the public through its Recalls, Safety Alerts, Blacklists, and other safety notices of any substandard, falsified, or affected products requiring regulatory action.

The agency said the safety communications clearly outline the specific product names, batch numbers, manufacturers, and the necessary measures to be taken. “They provide critical information that may impact treatment and diagnostic decisions for healthcare providers and patients. 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,” NAFDAC said.

It recalled that in recent months, it issued targeted safety alerts on certain brands and batches of Amoxicillin. In August 2025, Public Alert No. 24/2025 announced the recall of Amoxivue (Amoxicillin) 500mg capsules due to low Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) content. In October 2025, Public Alert No. 34/2025 addressed substandard batches of Astamocil and Astamentin suspensions, while Public Alert No. 35/2025 notified the public of substandard batches of Annmox and Jawamox suspensions. The actions were specific to identified products and do not constitute a ban on Amoxicillin.

NAFDAC advised members of the public to disregard the misleading video on social media and rely only on verified Recalls and Safety Alerts published on the official NAFDAC website.

The agency reiterated Its commitment to safeguarding public health through transparent, science-based regulatory actions. (The Guardian)

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