Bukola Afeni
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that it has secretly banned the sale and use of Amoxicillin in Nigeria, describing the allegation as false and misleading.
In a statement issued by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC said no such ban, secret or otherwise, has been imposed on Amoxicillin.
“NAFDAC has not banned Amoxicillin in Nigeria, either secretly or openly,” Adeyeye said, stressing that the agency always communicates regulatory actions publicly through official channels.
She explained that NAFDAC routinely informs Nigerians through recalls, safety alerts, blacklists, and other notices whenever substandard or falsified products are identified.
Such communications, she said, clearly state the affected product names, batch numbers, manufacturers, and required regulatory actions to guide healthcare providers and patients.
According to the agency, recent actions concerning Amoxicillin were limited to specific brands and batches found to be substandard and do not amount to a blanket ban on the drug.
“In August 2025, Public Alert No. 24/2025 announced the recall of Amoxivue (Amoxicillin) 500mg capsules due to low Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient content,” the statement said.
It added that in October 2025, Public Alert No. 34/2025 addressed substandard batches of Astamocil and Astamentin suspensions, while Public Alert No. 35/2025 related to substandard batches of Annmox and Jawamox suspensions.
“These actions were specific to identified products and do not constitute a ban on Amoxicillin,” NAFDAC clarified.
The agency urged members of the public to disregard the circulating video and rely only on verified information published on its official website.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health through transparent, science-based regulatory actions.
