Amoxicillin not banned in Nigeria, says NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that Amoxicillin has been secretly banned in Nigeria, describing the reports as false and misleading.

In a statement posted on its X handle on Monday, the agency said its attention was drawn to a viral video alleging that Amoxicillin, a widely used antibiotic, had been banned across the country.

NAFDAC clarified that no such ban exists.

According to the Agency, while it routinely issues safety alerts, recalls, or regulatory actions on specific substandard or affected batches of medicines, there has been no blanket ban on Amoxicillin in Nigeria.

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. NAFDAC alerts the public through its Recalls, Safety Alerts, Blacklists, and other safety notices of any substandard, falsified, or affected products requiring regulatory action.

“These safety communications clearly outline the specific product names, batch numbers, manufacturers, and the necessary measures to be taken. They provide critical information that may impact treatment and diagnostic decisions for healthcare providers and patients. Blacklisting, where applicable, involves prohibiting specific companies from the sale, distribution, or use of their products due to safety concerns, regulatory violations, or unethical practices.

“In recent months, NAFDAC issued targeted safety alerts on certain brands and batches of Amoxicillin. In August 2025, Public Alert No. 24/2025 announced the recall of Amoxivue (Amoxicillin) 500mg capsules due to low Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) content. In October 2025, Public Alert No. 34/2025 addressed substandard batches of Astamocil and Astamentin suspensions, while Public Alert No. 35/2025 notified the public of substandard batches of Annmox and Jawamox suspensions. These actions were specific to identified products and do not constitute a ban on Amoxicillin,” the post read.

NAFDAC urged members of the public, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to disregard the misinformation and avoid spreading unverified claims that could cause unnecessary panic.

The agency also advised Nigerians to rely solely on official updates and announcements released through NAFDAC’s verified communication channels for accurate information regarding medicines and public health issues.

Culled from punch