The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has denied reports claiming that the antibiotic amoxicillin has been banned in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its director-general, Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency said a video circulating on social media falsely alleged that NAFDAC had secretly banned the sale and use of amoxicillin in the country.
NAFDAC described the claim as “false and devoid of any factual basis”.
“NAFDAC has not banned Amoxicillin in Nigeria, either secretly or openly. As a responsible regulatory authority, the agency publicly notifies Nigerians of any regulatory actions through official channels,” the statement read.
The agency explained that it routinely informs the public through recalls, safety alerts, blacklists, and other notices whenever substandard, falsified, or affected products require regulatory action.
NAFDAC clarified that while some products may occasionally be withdrawn from circulation, such actions are usually limited to specific brands or batches found to be substandard or non-compliant with safety standards, and do not amount to a blanket ban on the medicine itself.
According to the agency, its safety communications typically include detailed information such as product names, manufacturers, batch numbers, and guidance for healthcare providers and consumers.
“In recent months, NAFDAC 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,” the statement said.
“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. These actions were specific to identified products and do not constitute a ban on Amoxicillin.”
NAFDAC urged the public to disregard misleading information on social media and rely on official updates published through its verified platforms.
It also advised healthcare providers and patients to consult official recall and safety alert notices before making treatment decisions.
