NIGERIA: NAFDAC Accuses VeryDarkMan Of Inciting Unrest

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has accused social media personality Very Dark Man, popularly known as VDM, of inciting unrest among traders at the Onitsha Bridge Head Market.

The agency on Monday raised the concerns over the use of social media to undermine national drug safety efforts.

According to NAFDAC Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the influencer’s videos allegedly encourage traders to resist lawful enforcement actions.

She warned that such conduct may violate Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act and called for security agencies to launch a thorough investigation.

The accusations come after NAFDAC’s nationwide raids on open drug markets in Onitsha, Idumota, and Aba.

The operations uncovered massive volumes of unregistered, expired, and substandard narcotics.

The agency said over one trillion naira worth of illicit drugs were seized and destroyed between February and March 2025.

“These markets were operating without compliance to basic storage or distribution regulations. It is a public health disaster waiting to happen,” Adeyeye stated.

While most traders at the Onitsha market have now complied with NAFDAC’s relocation directive to Coordinated Wholesale Centres, the agency says a few are resisting.

Adeyeye accused the non-compliant traders of teaming up with social media figures to stir opposition and shield banned products from regulation.

“These are individuals with vested interests in the illegal drug trade. They are attempting to derail progress through misinformation,” she said.

She described such influencers as enablers of criminal networks and warned that NAFDAC would not back down in its fight against fake medicines.

“Merchants of death who endanger lives will be brought to justice,” she said.

NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to public health and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and supportive of its mission to ensure only safe, quality medicines are distributed in the country.