The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has addressed allegations that it demanded money from traders at the Onitsha Bridge Head market.
A viral video by Martins Otse, popularly known as
VeryDarkMan, alleged that NAFDAC demanded N700,000 from shop owners to reopen
their shops.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its director-general,
Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC refuted the claims, accusing the influencer of
inciting traders and misrepresenting facts.
“The attention of the National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been drawn to misleading information as
contained in videos that are trending on social media of the incitement of
traders of Onitsha Bridge Head Market by one social media influencer,” the
statement reads.
NAFDAC said it carried out a nationwide enforcement exercise
between February 9 and March 27, 2025, targeting open drug markets in Idumota
(Lagos), Aba, and Onitsha.
The operation, NAFDAC said, resulted in the seizure and
destruction of banned, expired, substandard, and falsified medicines and
narcotics worth over one trillion naira.
According to the agency, none of the warehouses, shops, or
storage facilities inspected met the minimum requirements of good storage and
distribution practices.
NAFDAC added that the facilities were also not registered
with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), in violation of existing
regulations.
The agency explained that it imposed gazetted investigative
charges on violators based on the nature of their infractions.
NAFDAC explained that gazetted “investigative charges” were
imposed on violators, based on the severity of infractions.
For instance, a charge of N5 million for the sale of
unregistered products was reduced to N200,000 after appeals. Similarly, another
charge of N2 million for storage violations was lowered to N500,000.
“These are Federal Government gazetted charges and payments.
Contrary to erroneous speculations, the agency is not imposing arbitrary
levies,” the statement added.
NAFDAC also warned that attempts to misrepresent its
statutory role and enforcement duties could constitute an offence under the
Cybercrime Act.
The agency also called on security agencies to take note of
the VeryDarkMan’s actions.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
I've always known VDM doesn't have sense.. he thinks advocacy is by shouting, how can one who started his so called advocacy by calling out fake cream sellers, now be defending people who are selling fake drugs.. olodo boy
ReplyDelete