The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) embarked on a robust campaign against counterfeit and substandard products in the latter half of 2024, culminating in the destruction of over N120 billion worth of seized goods across Nigeria. This operation, encompassing all six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), underscores NAFDAC’s commitment to safeguarding public health, particularly during the festive Yuletide season. The agency’s Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, reassured Nigerians of NAFDAC’s proactive measures to ensure the safety and quality of food and drugs consumed during and beyond the holiday period. This intensified effort involved various NAFDAC directorates, including Investigation and Enforcement, Pharmacovigilance, and Post-Marketing Surveillance, working in concert to remove harmful products from circulation.
NAFDAC’s multi-pronged approach targeted various counterfeit and substandard products, ranging from pharmaceuticals to food items. Large-scale raids were conducted in major cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Aba, Ibadan, Kaduna, and the FCT, leading to the apprehension of manufacturers and distributors of these illicit goods. Significantly, the agency disrupted a network involved in the illegal revalidation of expired alcoholic beverages at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, seizing products worth N2 billion. This operation highlighted the agency’s vigilance against practices that could severely endanger public health. The concerted efforts yielded substantial seizures, effectively removing billions of naira worth of dangerous products from the market in just three months.
The range of seized items reflected the widespread nature of the counterfeiting problem. In Ibadan, Oyo State, NAFDAC destroyed N11 billion worth of expired and unregistered drugs. A raid on Tyre Village, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, yielded N300 million worth of fake medicines. Counterfeit rice also emerged as a significant concern, leading to the confiscation of over 1,600 bags worth N5 billion in Wuse and Garki markets, Abuja, and the sealing of a factory and eight shops involved in packaging and distributing counterfeit rice in Nasarawa State. These seizures demonstrate the breadth of NAFDAC’s operations and the agency’s determination to tackle various forms of product adulteration.
NAFDAC’s operations extended beyond major urban centers, reaching into smaller cities and markets across the country. In Aba, Abia State, the agency shut down 150 shops in Eziukwu Market after uncovering large-scale production and distribution of fake and expired goods, including beverages, carbonated drinks, and revalidated food items with a market value of N5 billion. This operation highlighted the pervasiveness of counterfeit goods, even in smaller markets, and the need for comprehensive enforcement efforts. The agency’s destruction of N10.99 billion worth of expired, unregistered, counterfeit, and smuggled products collected from five South-West states and Kwara State further solidified its commitment to consumer protection.
Professor Adeyeye’s directive to apprehend those counterfeiting popular rice brands reflects NAFDAC’s targeted approach. Her insistence on removing these products from the market underlines the agency’s focus on proactive intervention, preventing potentially harmful products from reaching consumers. This assertive stance underscores the agency’s commitment to ensuring that only safe, quality, and wholesome food products are available to Nigerian consumers, not just during the festive season but throughout the year. This focus on consumer well-being is central to NAFDAC’s mandate and drives its enforcement activities.
The destruction of over N120 billion worth of seized products within a six-month period represents a significant achievement for NAFDAC. This substantial figure underscores the scale of the counterfeiting problem in Nigeria and the agency’s success in combating it. Professor Adeyeye’s warning that 2025 will be a difficult year for those prioritizing profit over public health sends a strong message of deterrence. This commitment to sustained enforcement signifies NAFDAC’s unwavering dedication to protecting Nigerian consumers from the dangers of substandard and falsified products. The agency’s actions serve as a critical safeguard for public health, ensuring access to safe and quality products.
