NAFDAC Refutes Fraudulent Recruitment Notice on Social Media

Nigeria’s food and drug regulator NAFDAC has issued a stern warning about a fraudulent recruitment notice circulating on social media, cautioning job seekers against falling victim to employment scammers.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) officially disowned the fake press release in a statement issued Wednesday and signed by Director-General Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye.

“Our attention has been drawn to a fake press release on the planned NAFDAC recruitment exercise circulating on social media,” the statement read. “While NAFDAC from time to time carries out recruitment exercises to engage qualified Nigerians, the press release in circulation and its content are fake.”

The agency emphasized that it has not announced any current recruitment drive and urged the public to disregard the fraudulent notice entirely. This swift response highlights the growing challenge of employment scams targeting Nigeria’s large pool of job seekers in a tight labor market.

Employment fraud has become increasingly sophisticated in Nigeria, where unemployment figures remain high. Scammers often impersonate government agencies and major corporations to extract money from desperate job seekers, typically demanding payment for application forms, processing fees, or interview slots.

NAFDAC specifically warned that such false recruitment notices are typically circulated by individuals attempting to extort money from unsuspecting candidates under the pretext of application or processing fees. The regulatory body made it clear that it never charges fees for employment opportunities.

The agency, which plays a crucial role in regulating food, drugs, and other consumer goods in Africa’s most populous nation, reminded the public that it disseminates official information exclusively through verified channels.

“Authentic information from NAFDAC is published exclusively on the official NAFDAC website and recognised media platforms,” the statement clarified, urging Nigerians to verify any purported communication from the agency through these official channels before taking action.

This incident occurs amid a broader pattern of recruitment scams targeting government agencies in Nigeria. Similar fraudulent notices have previously impersonated organizations like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigeria Customs Service, and various federal ministries.

Government agencies in Nigeria typically conduct recruitment through formalized processes that include official announcements in national newspapers, posting on their official websites, and sometimes through authorized third-party recruitment platforms.

NAFDAC, which employs specialists ranging from pharmacists and food scientists to laboratory technologists and regulatory officers, does periodically expand its workforce to fulfill its mandate of safeguarding public health. However, the agency stressed that when legitimate recruitment occurs, clear announcements would be made through proper channels.

Digital security experts advise job seekers to be particularly cautious of recruitment notices that request upfront payments, personal banking details, or that are distributed primarily through social media or messaging applications. Legitimate employers, especially government agencies, typically don’t request payment during the application process.

The NAFDAC warning comes at a time when Nigerian authorities are intensifying efforts to combat various forms of online fraud, which have damaged the country’s international reputation and caused financial harm to countless victims both domestically and abroad.

Job seekers are advised to directly contact organizations through their official phone numbers or visit their physical offices to verify recruitment exercises before submitting any personal information or making payments.