The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has strongly criticized the Africa Independent Television (AIT) for airing a misleading report that allegedly misrepresented the agency’s stance on the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) regarding fake medicines.
In a statement sent to AHR on Thursday, NAFDAC refuted AIT’s report titled “NAFDAC Implicates Pharmacy Council of Nigeria in Fake Medicines,” calling it a “distortion and falsification of facts.” The agency clarified that during a press briefing on March 1, 2025, its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, did not accuse the PCN of any wrongdoing.
NAFDAC explained that Prof. Adeyeye’s remarks provided a legal, regulatory, and historical perspective on the roles of both organizations in ensuring pharmaceutical safety. She particularly highlighted the challenges in regulating Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendors (PPMVs) and noted that past regulatory inconsistencies had led to fragmented oversight and legal disputes.
“At no point was PCN accused of complicity in the circulation of fake medicines,” the statement emphasized, adding that NAFDAC remains committed to working with the council to ensure drug safety and regulatory compliance.
The agency also reminded AIT of its obligations under the Nigeria Broadcasting Code to ensure factual and balanced reporting. It specifically cited Section 5.1.2 of the code, which warns against distortions, exaggerations, misrepresentations, or material omissions in news reports.
In response to what it described as a breach of ethical journalism, NAFDAC has issued three demands to AIT:
An immediate public retraction of the misleading report.
A public apology aired with the same level of prominence as the original report.
A commitment to accurate and factual reporting in future coverage of NAFDAC’s activities.
The agency warned that failure to comply would result in regulatory and legal actions.
“We trust that AIT will swiftly take the necessary corrective action to prevent further misinformation,” NAFDAC stated.
