Abuja — The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging a secret ban on the antibiotic amoxicillin, describing the claims as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Monday, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, clarified that the agency has neither secretly nor publicly banned amoxicillin in Nigeria.
“There is no ban on amoxicillin in Nigeria, either secretly or openly,” the agency stated, stressing that all regulatory actions are officially communicated to the public through its verified channels.
NAFDAC explained that the confusion may have arisen from recent safety alerts involving specific brands and batches of amoxicillin-based products. According to the agency, these actions were targeted recalls aimed at protecting public health, not a blanket ban on the drug.
In August 2025, NAFDAC issued Public Alert No. 24/2025 announcing the recall of Amoxivue (Amoxicillin) 500mg capsules due to low Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) content. This was followed in October 2025 by Public Alert No. 34/2025, which addressed substandard batches of Astamocil and Astamentin suspensions, and Public Alert No. 35/2025, warning against substandard batches of Annmox and Jawamox suspensions.
“These regulatory actions were limited to specific products found to be substandard and do not amount to a ban on amoxicillin,” NAFDAC clarified.
The agency urged Nigerians to rely on official information and avoid spreading unverified claims that could cause unnecessary panic or misinformation about essential medicines.
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