By BONIFACE AKARAH

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched an investigation into the death of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member at the orientation camp in Agwu, Enugu State, dismissing reports linking his death to substandard or falsified medicines.

In a public alert dated October 18, 2026, and signed by its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, the agency said preliminary investigations showed that the corps member was brought to the camp clinic on October 7 with symptoms suggestive of severe malaria and a history of peptic ulcer disease.

NAFDAC said two fellow corps members assisted him to the clinic at about 9pm, where he received an intramuscular antimalarial and other supportive medications administered intravenously. He was kept under observation overnight and discharged the following morning with oral medications.

According to the agency, the deceased returned to the clinic on October 10, complaining of pain in his right thigh. He was advised to see a physiotherapist, but his profuse sweating prompted the attending doctor to check his blood pressure, which was found to be low at 80/40mmHg.

“He was stabilised with intravenous Normal Saline,” the agency stated, adding that subsequent monitoring revealed recurrent episodes of low blood pressure.

NAFDAC said his condition, alongside poor urine output despite fluid resuscitation, prompted his referral by ambulance to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, accompanied by another doctor.

“He went into coma at about the time of arriving at UNTH. All efforts at resuscitating him failed,” the statement said.

The agency disclosed that the camp clinic doctor was later informed by the deceased’s friend that the corps member had been vomiting for two days after his initial admission. According to NAFDAC, the doctor had not been aware of the vomiting before the information was provided.

Addressing speculation that the medicines administered at the clinic caused the death, NAFDAC said the same medications had been given to several other patients at the camp who recovered after treatment. It added that doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare workers at the clinic had also used the medications themselves at different times.

“The doctors believed that the cause of death was acute kidney injury secondary to severe dehydration and shock,” the agency stated, stressing that its investigation was ongoing.

NAFDAC said its officers had visited the clinic, interviewed doctors and other staff members, and collected samples of the medicines for further action, including laboratory analysis.

The agency commiserated with the family of the deceased and urged the public to remain calm while investigations continued.

It reiterated its commitment to ensuring that medicines available to the public are safe, of good quality and effective.

NAFDAC advised consumers seeking to make complaints or enquiries to contact its call centre on 0800-1-623322 or 0700-1-623322, or email [reforms@nafdac.gov.ng](mailto:reforms@nafdac.gov.ng).