Has NAFDAC banned popular antibiotic Amoxicillin? Here’s what Nigerians should know
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In a public notice issued Monday, the agency explained that regulatory actions are always communicated through official channels and are usually targeted at particular products or manufacturers, not entire drug categories.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismissed claims that the widely used antibiotic, Amoxicillin, has been banned in Nigeria.
The agency reacted after viral messages on social media sparked confusion and concern among Nigerians.
In a public notice issued on Monday, February 9, NAFDAC described the claim as false, stressing that there is no blanket ban on Amoxicillin in the country.
According to the agency, while it routinely issues safety alerts and recalls for specific substandard or affected batches of medicines, such actions do not mean an entire drug category has been banned.
“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,” the statement said.
The agency explained that its recalls, safety alerts and blacklists usually contain details such as product names, batch numbers and manufacturers to guide healthcare providers and the public.
NAFDAC also cited previous targeted actions involving some Amoxicillin products. In August 2025, it recalled Amoxivue 500mg capsules due to low active pharmaceutical ingredient content.
In October 2025, the agency also issued alerts on substandard batches of Astamocil, Astamentin, Annmox and Jawamox suspensions.
The agency stressed that these actions were limited to specific products and did not amount to banning Amoxicillin.
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