NAFDAC denies accusing PCN of involvement in circulation of fake medicines

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has denied reports suggesting that it accused the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) of involvement in the circulation of fake medicines.

In a statement on Thursday, Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s director-general, described the reports as “misleading” and said they misrepresented her remarks from a press interview on March 1, 2025.

The controversy stems from a news report aired under the headline: “NAFDAC implicates pharmacy council in fake medicines”, which the agency says is a “gross misrepresentation” of what was said.

The agency clarified that Adeyeye had spoken about the regulation of Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendors (PPMVs), which had become challenging due to fragmented oversight and legal disputes.

NAFDAC said it supports PCN’s official response to the claims and condemned what it called a “distortion” of the facts in the original report by the media. 

“Instead, the DG-NAFDAC gave a detailed legal, regulatory, and historical perspective on the roles of the two organizations (NAFDAC & PCN) in ensuring the safety of pharmaceuticals and the challenges that arose due to past regulatory inconsistencies,” the statement reads.

“It is imperative to note that the DG-NAFDAC’s remarks highlighted the complementary roles of NAFDAC and PCN in safeguarding public health.

“The DG-NAFDAC specifically addressed the issue of Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendors (PPMVs), whose regulation, over time, became a challenge due to fragmented oversight and subsequent litigations. At no point was PCN accused of complicity in the circulation of fake medicines.

“In this light, NAFDAC aligns fully with the position of the PCN, as articulated in their official response and vehemently condemns the misrepresentation of the Director-General’s statement during the press conference in question.”

NAFDAC has demanded an immediate public retraction of the report, an apology, and a commitment to accurate reporting.

The agency warned that failure to comply could result in further regulatory and legal action.