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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismissed circulating reports alleging that the antibiotic Amoxicillin has been secretly banned in Nigeria.
In a public notice issued via its official social media platforms on Monday, February 9, the agency described the claim as false and misleading. NAFDAC explained that there is no blanket ban on Amoxicillin in the country.
According to the agency, while it regularly issues safety alerts, recalls, and regulatory notices for specific medicines that fail quality standards, such actions are always product-specific and publicly communicated.
“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 said.
The agency further clarified that its safety communications—such as recalls, public alerts, and blacklists—clearly identify affected products by name, batch number, manufacturer, and recommended actions. It noted that blacklisting, where applicable, is directed at companies involved in safety concerns, regulatory breaches, or unethical practices, not at entire categories of drugs.
NAFDAC referenced recent targeted alerts involving certain Amoxicillin products to illustrate this approach. In August 2025, Public Alert No. 24/2025 announced the recall of Amoxivue 500mg capsules after tests revealed low active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) content.
Similarly, in October 2025, Public Alerts Nos. 34 and 35 addressed substandard batches of Astamocil, Astamentin, Annmox, and Jawamox suspensions.
“These actions were specific to identified products and do not constitute a ban on Amoxicillin,” the agency stated.
NAFDAC urged the public, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to disregard unverified reports and rely solely on information released through its official communication channels.
