The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has defended its recent enforcement operations at Onitsha Bridge Head Market in Anambra State, following allegations of extortion circulating on social media. A viral video by influencer Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), claimed that NAFDAC demanded N700,000 from each shop owner to reopen their shops after a crackdown.
In a statement issued today by NAFDAC Director General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency did not directly address the bribery allegation but clarified that its operations, conducted between February 9 and March 27, 2025, targeted unregistered, banned, expired, substandard, and falsified medicines, including controlled substances. The raids, which also covered Idumota Market in Lagos and Ariaria Market in Aba, resulted in the seizure and destruction of medicines worth over N1 trillion.
NAFDAC noted that the affected markets failed to meet Good Storage and Distribution Practices and lacked proper registration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria. Following interventions by state governments, traders were given a moratorium to relocate to a Coordinated Wholesale Centre that complies with regulatory standards. “The market reopened on March 9, 2025, and over 2,500 traders with 3,500 shops who complied with regulatory procedures have resumed normal activities at Ogbogwu Market,” the statement read.
The agency attributed resistance to a small group of traders linked to banned narcotics, accusing them of inciting unrest to evade justice. NAFDAC also raised concerns over VDM’s videos, warning that they may violate the Cybercrime Act by inciting traders to defy regulations. “The agency’s attention has been drawn to misleading videos trending on social media inciting traders at Onitsha Bridge Head Market by a social media influencer. NAFDAC wishes to alert the public and security agencies to this incitement,” the statement said, adding that law enforcement would determine if VDM’s actions constitute a legal violation.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of medical products in Nigeria, emphasizing that it operates strictly within its mandate to protect public health. The agency urged law-abiding citizens to continue their activities while assuring that those involved in selling fake drugs would face prosecution.
