The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has firmly rejected claims made by social media influencer, Very Dark Man (VDM), accusing the agency of extortion in its regulatory enforcement at Onitsha Bridge Head Market.
In a rejoinder on Tuesday, the agency described VDM’s comments as inciting and potentially in violation of the Cybercrime Act, stating that it has reported the matter to relevant security agencies for investigation.
VDM, in a widely circulated Instagram video surrounded by protesting traders, alleged that NAFDAC extorted ₦700,000 from the traders for a service they were unaware of.
He displayed a document he claimed was a receipt for the payment and threatened legal action.
In response, NAFDAC clarified that the penalties imposed on traders followed due process and were in line with gazetted federal regulations.
The agency explained that during recent enforcement operations in three open drug markets, all inspected shops, warehouses, and stores were found to be in violation of Good Storage and Distribution Practices.
More critically, none of the premises were registered with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), a clear breach of federal laws.
Regarding the controversial fees, the agency disclosed that an investigative charge of ₦5 million was imposed on those selling unregistered products, which was later reduced to ₦200,000 after pleas.
Similarly, a ₦2 million charge for violating storage standards was reduced to ₦500,000. “These are Federal Government-gazetted charges and payments,” NAFDAC stated, dismissing allegations of theft as baseless and misleading.
In a statement earlier on Monday, NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, had warned that VDM’s video amounted to incitement, potentially constituting a breach of the Cybercrime Act.
She emphasized that the influencer’s call for traders to defy regulatory action undermines the authority of NAFDAC and could endanger public health.
“What this perpetrator has done is to openly tell his audience to defy the regulatory processes of NAFDAC,” Prof. Adeyeye said, noting that the enforcement was carried out under the authority of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Although the agency was initially silent on the specific ₦700,000 payment mentioned by VDM, it offered a detailed breakdown and justification for the charges on Tuesday, stressing that all actions were lawful and necessary to maintain drug safety standards.
NAFDAC urged the public to disregard misinformation and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health through strict enforcement of regulatory standards, “NAFDAC is working firmly within the purview of her mandate”, the DG said.
The agency said it would leave it to security and legal authorities to determine if the influencer’s actions violate any statutes under the Cybercrime Act.
Reaffirming NAFDAC’s mission, the DG said, “We remain committed to ensuring that all medical products, medicines, vaccines, medical devices, and more used in Nigeria are of good quality, safe, and effective.
“These efforts are vital in reducing maternal and child mortality, improving life expectancy, and protecting citizens with chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes”.