August 3, 2025
As part of it campaign against unsafe consumer products the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated banned, expired, and unregistered goods valued at more than N1.5 billion in a major enforcement operation in Lagos state.
The agency also intercepted a truckload of counterfeit products in the raid carried out on Saturday at the cosmetics section of the city’s Trade Fair market.
NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, who led the operation, told journalists that the exercise was part of a nationwide effort to remove harmful products from circulation.
“We’ve received many complaints from Nigerians about unsafe products, and this exercise continues our efforts to remove such items from circulation.”
Iluyomade stated that most of the seized goods were banned products that had entered the country illegally, bypassing the required safety and quality testing. Also discovered were large quantities of expired items still being offered for sale in warehouses.
Aaccording to NAFDAC estimates, the combined value of the confiscated goods in the exercise, exceeded N1.5 billion.
READ MORE; NAFDAC Destroys Expired, Falsified, Unregistered Drugs Worth N100bn In Ibadan
NAFDAC, In a statement said,
“Some of the confiscated goods are banned products that entered illegally, bypassing required testing procedures.
“We discovered many expired products still displayed for sale in warehouses. The total value exceeds N1.5 billion,” he said.
Warehouse owners linked to the unwholesome items have been invited for questioning. “If found guilty, they will face appropriate legal consequences,” stressing that the agency would pursue prosecutions where necessary.
Iluyomade, explained that NAFDAC employs a two-tiered system to assess product safety, begins with visual inspections to verify compliance with labeling and packaging standards, followed by laboratory analysis of samples to confirm chemical content.
“Some items may appear normal but contain harmful or carcinogenic chemicals.”
He emphasized that beyond public health issue, food and drug regulation is also a matter of national security. “One way to silently harm people are through contaminated food or skincare products,” and called for stronger national attention to curb the threats.
NAFDAC acknowledged the importance of commerce, but insisted that the agency’s mandate prioritizes consumer safety above all else. “Our mission is not anti-business. We aim to guide and protect everyone, including the business owners.”
READ MORE; NAFDAC Reopens Onitsha Market, 50 Truckloads Of Fake, Substandard Drugs Seized
The raids of various markets by NAFDAC, reflects growing concerns about the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard goods in Nigeria’s markets, which pose risks ranging from minor health issues to life-threatening conditions.
According to analysts the scale of Saturday’s seizure highlights both the scale of the illicit trade and the difficulty regulators face in policing Nigeria’s vast consumer markets.
Iluyomade urged Nigerians to be mindful of harmful practices that compromise public health and be vigilant when purchasing products and reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to continuing enforcement operations, warning that any trader who bypasses proper registration and testing procedures will face consequences.
He warned that “All imported or locally made products must comply with NAFDAC standards before distribution.”
