By Daniel Kudayah
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disowned a viral list of products circulating on social media, describing it as unofficial and warning Nigerians against sharing the unverified information.
The agency, in a press release dated October 9, 2026, said the list, which purported to identify fake, adulterated or substandard products in the Nigerian market, did not originate from NAFDAC and should not be regarded as an official regulatory alert.
NAFDAC explained that products were not declared fake, adulterated or unsafe without due regulatory processes, including investigation, sampling and, where necessary, scientific and laboratory verification.
It said official alerts were issued through the agency’s established communication channels, with details of affected products and the appropriate regulatory action.
The agency warned that circulating unverified product lists could cause unnecessary public concern and damage the reputation and business interests of legitimate manufacturers, distributors and retailers.
It added that the appearance of a product’s name or photograph on social media did not, in itself, constitute an official finding that the product was fake or unsafe.
According to NAFDAC, its public alerts serve as a reference for consumers, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to identify products requiring regulatory attention and avoid potential harm.
The agency said it would continue to conduct market surveillance, investigate complaints and take enforcement action, including the destruction of affected products, where investigations and scientific assessments established the need for regulatory intervention.
NAFDAC urged Nigerians to rely on its official communication channels for accurate information on product alerts, recalls, withdrawals, suspensions and other regulatory actions.
