The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has accused social media personality Very Dark Man (VDM) of inciting traders at the Onitsha Bridge Head Market to resist federal regulatory measures, following recent crackdowns on open drug markets across Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday, NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, condemned the influencer’s alleged actions, which include posting videos that appear to encourage non-compliance with NAFDAC directives. She warned that such behavior could be in violation of the Cybercrime Act, urging law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter thoroughly.
The accusation comes after NAFDAC’s enforcement operations between February and March 2025 in major drug markets in Idumota (Lagos), Aba, and Onitsha, where over ₦1 trillion worth of banned, expired, and substandard drugs were seized and destroyed.
According to Prof. Adeyeye, these markets failed to comply with Good Storage and Distribution Practices and lacked basic registration, posing serious threats to public health.
She noted that while the Onitsha drug market reopened on March 9, 2025, with more than 2,500 traders now compliant, a small group of defiant traders—allegedly involved with banned substances—continue to resist NAFDAC’s regulations. Some of these individuals are reportedly leveraging online influencers to stir public resistance.
“The remaining non-compliant shops are tied to dangerous, banned drugs,” the agency stated. “Their collaboration with certain influencers appears to be an attempt to distract the public and evade regulatory scrutiny.”
NAFDAC’s directive had ordered traders to relocate to Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWCs), which are structured to ensure better oversight of drug storage and distribution. This move is part of a broader initiative to eliminate counterfeit drugs and safeguard public health.
Prof. Adeyeye reiterated NAFDAC’s unwavering commitment to protecting Nigerians from unsafe medicines and medical products, vowing that anyone aiding in the sale or distribution of counterfeit drugs will be brought to justice.
“The merchants of death fueling insecurity and distributing fake medicines will face the full wrath of the law,” she said, calling on Nigerians to remain vigilant and support the agency’s efforts.
