The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has distanced itself from a viral social media list claiming that several products sold in Nigeria are fake, adulterated or substandard.
NAFDAC, in a statement on Thursday, urged Nigerians to disregard the list, stressing that it did not originate from the agency and should not be regarded as an official regulatory alert, recall notice or safety communication.
The agency explained that products cannot be declared fake or unsafe without following established regulatory procedures, including investigation, sampling and, where necessary, scientific and laboratory testing.
According to NAFDAC, its official alerts are specific and verifiable. Where a product or batch is found to be substandard, falsified, adulterated or unsafe, the agency provides details of the affected product and the regulatory action taken through its recognised communication channels.
“Members of the public are strongly advised to disregard the viral list in its entirety and to refrain from sharing or amplifying the unverified information,” NAFDAC said.
The agency warned Nigerians against treating social media allegations as official regulatory findings, noting that the appearance of a product’s name or photograph on an online list does not, on its own, establish that the product is fake or unsafe.
NAFDAC said the clarification was necessary to prevent unnecessary public panic and protect legitimate manufacturers, distributors and retailers from reputational damage and commercial losses caused by unverified claims.
It added that treating the viral list as an official declaration could create fear among consumers, disrupt legitimate businesses, distort purchasing decisions and undermine confidence in properly regulated food, pharmaceutical and other regulated products.
The agency advised consumers, healthcare professionals, manufacturers, distributors and other stakeholders to rely on its official channels for information concerning product alerts, recalls, withdrawals, suspensions and other regulatory actions.
NAFDAC nevertheless encouraged Nigerians to report suspected counterfeit, adulterated or substandard products, stressing that such reports provide useful information for regulatory investigations.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring that regulated products meet required standards of safety, quality and efficacy, adding that enforcement action would be taken where investigations and scientific assessments establish the need for intervention.
