The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) reviewed with dismay, the recent misleading report aired by Africa Independent Television (AIT) under the headline: “NAFDAC IMPLICATES PHARMACY COUNCIL OF NIGERIA IN FAKE MEDICINES.”
This headline is a gross misrepresentation of the facts conveyed during the press interview granted by the Director-General NAFDAC (DG-N) on 1st March 2025 as nowhere in the interview did the DG-N implicate the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) in any wrongdoing. 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.
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.
The erroneous headline published by AIT was a distortion and falsification of the facts. It was misleading and could undermine the collaborative efforts of NAFDAC and PCN in ensuring pharmaceutical safety and regulatory compliance.
We wish to remind AIT of its responsibility under the Nigeria Broadcasting Code (6th Edition, 2016), particularly Section 5.0, Subsection 5.1.2, which mandates that:
“A Broadcaster shall present news as factual and in a correct and fair manner without:
- distortions, exaggerations or misrepresentations.
- material omissions; or
- ”
AIT’s failure to adhere to these principles constitutes a breach of journalistic ethics and regulatory compliance.
In the light of this, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) demands the following:
- An immediate public retraction of the misleading report.
- A public apology, broadcast at the same level of prominence as the original report.
- A commitment to ensure accurate and factual reporting in future coverage of NAFDAC’s activities.
We trust that AIT will, in swift compliance, take the necessary corrective action without delay to prevent further dissemination of misinformation as failure to do so will compel the Agency to escalate this matter through appropriate regulatory and legal channels.
Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, FAS, FPSN
Director-General (NAFDAC)
MARCH 5, 2025