Transactions in the underground economy of Nigeria speak much with regards to the consciousness and value of life when money making is involved. In this report, FESTUS OKOROMADU reports that NAFDAC records revealed that fake, substandard and products worth over N15 billion were either destroyed or confiscated in December 2024, yet the industry keeps striving.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is saddled with the enormous responsibility of promoting public health safety by instituting an effective and efficient regulatory system that ensures only the right quality food, drug and other regulated products are manufactured, exported, imported, advertised, distributed, sold and used in the country.
However, with the high rate of reports of deaths caused by consumption of substandard products across the country in recent time, Nigerians have continued to wonder what has become of the agency.
Established by Decree No. 15 of 1993 as amended by Decree No. 19 of 1999 and now the NAFDAC Act Cap N1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, the agency’s scope also includes regulation of cosmetics, medical devices, packaged water, chemicals and detergents.
But the existence of the underground economy empowered by various objectives both authentic and otherwise has called to question the ability of NAFDAC to tackle the challenges posed by unscrupulous elements in the society striving to take advantage of the system.
The danger of the failure or otherwise of the regulating agency was called to question when the Director General, Mojisola Adeyeye, expressly confirmed that 14.3 million Nigerians suffer from drug abuse, a growing public health concern.
“Aba, the commercial city of Abia State was not left out in the illegal pursuit as NAFDAC shut down the popular Eziukwu market over issues related to fake and expired products worth N5 billion during the month under review”
Bearing in mind that drug is just one of the many aspects of its regulatory coverage; the gravity of the issues in contention becomes paramount and urgently demands attention.
Over N15bn worth of products destroyed in December 2024
To put matters in perspective, a research by The Point newspaper shows that in the month of December 2024, NAFDAC, reported the seizure of various products worth about N15 billion through the raids of markets, makeshift factories and warehouses across the country.
Major cities such as Aba in Abia State, Karu in Nasarawa State, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Ilorin, Lagos among others featured prominently in the list.
Meanwhile, other cities across the country have their fair share even though many were not covered by the month’s report.
Detail analysis shows that during the month, the agency also shut down illegal production facilities and as well destroyed contaminated products.
Flipping through some of the striking incidents recorded in the month revealed that NAFDAC executed three major raids leading to the seizure of products worth billions of naira.
In Lagos unregistered food products worth over N3.8 billion were seized in a warehouse.
The agency in its account said, “NAFDAC’s Investigation & Enforcement Directorate raided a warehouse at Apongbon Oke Arin Market, following a tip-off about the sale of unregistered food products.
“Various unregistered items valued at N3, 818,802,720 were seized during the operation, and the facility has been placed on hold pending further investigations.
“The warehouse management has been summoned for questioning, and appropriate sanctions will follow after investigations.”
A similar operation led to the shutdown of eight rice shops and a warehouse in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
“The facilities were implicated in producing and distributing counterfeit rice, leading to the seizure of over 1,600 bags worth approximately N5 billion,” NAFDAC said.
Explaining details of what transpired NAFDAC, said, “The operation uncovered counterfeit rice repackaged in branded bags such as Big Bull, Royal Stallion, and Tomato Aposo, which aimed at deceiving unsuspecting consumers.
“Empty rice bags bearing popular brand names were also discovered at the Karu facility.”
Addressing reporters after the raid which was extended to the Wuse market in Abuja, NAFDAC’s Director in charge of the FCT, Kenneth Azikiwe, warned counterfeiters to desist from such practices or face legal consequences, adding that suspects apprehended during the raid would be prosecuted to deter others.
Aba, the commercial city of Abia State was not left out in the illegal pursuit as NAFDAC shut down the popular Eziukwu market over issues related to fake and expired products worth N5 billion during the month under review.
According to reports, NAFDAC was said to have shut down 150 shops at Eziukwu Market, Aba, Abia State, during a two-day operation on December 16 and 17, 2024.
The NAFDAC team said it “uncovered large-scale production and distribution of fake and expired goods, including beverages, carbonated drinks, wines, spirits, vegetable oils, and revalidated food items such as noodles, powdered milk, and yoghurt.
“The raid led to the destruction of items valued at N5 billion,” the agency explained.
Describing the market as a hub for counterfeit and substandard products, the Director, South-East Zone, Martins Iluyomade, expressed dismay at the continued illegal activities, despite a previous undertaking signed by market leaders in December 2023 to expose counterfeiters.
Sachet drinks and PET bottle alcohol
Another area of focus during the month was the enforcement of a ban on alcoholic beverages below 200ml, popularly referred to as sachet drinks and PET bottle alcohol.
NAFDAC had announced in February 2024 that, following a five-year grace period granted to manufacturers in 2018 to phase out production, it will commence enforcement.
In one of such enforcement ventures, NAFDAC targeted major distributors at Rumuokoro Market in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Unfortunately, the incident wasn’t very successful as though hundreds of cartons of sachet and PET bottle alcohol were discovered in two shops during the raid, traders in the market resisted attempts to evacuate the products, forcing NAFDAC to place them on hold.
However, a similar operation at the Wuse market in Abuja led to the seizure of products worth N52 million according to NAFDAC’s records.
In Lagos the NAFDAC had manufacturers to deal with, especially unregistered ones. According to the agency, it raided a makeshift factory in Oke Arin market, Lagos Island, following a complaint about the illegal production of alcoholic beverages.
“Three men were apprehended and various counterfeit alcoholic drinks, empty bottles, and packaging materials were seized.
“The products, valued at over N180 million, included fake versions of popular brands. The main suspect, Mr. Tochukwu Henry, confessed to refilling bottles labeled as Remy Martin with ST-Remy contents and employing two others to assist in the illicit operation.”
In another development, NAFDAC said it uncovered an illegal production site for counterfeit alcoholic beverages on Offin Road, Balogun, Lagos Island.
A team of investigators who visited the area said it discovered a shop repurposed for producing and packaging fake alcoholic drinks, adding that assorted bottles of the offending products were destroyed on-site, while packaging materials, empty bottles, and repackaged drinks were confiscated.
“The estimated value of the destroyed and seized items exceeds N30 million,” NAFDAC stated.
During the month the agency also destroyed contaminated Bioflex Infusions said to have failed sterility tests.
“NAFDAC has destroyed 828 cartons of Bioflex Infusions supplied by Biomedical Company Limited, Ilorin, following a consumer complaint from Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika,” the agency stated.
Banned imported food items
Banned imported food items such as frozen chicken, turkey and catfish also took center stage during the month as NAFDAC embarked on a sensitisation programme at the Kado Fish market in Abuja.
“I can as well tell you that for every one person caught and paraded by NAFDAC or other agencies of government, there are ten others yet to be caught and may not be caught because they know how to navigate the Nigerian system”
The programme was said to have been initiated as part of efforts to remind the public of the ban on importing, distributing, or selling frozen chicken, turkey, and catfish, and as well emphasize the need for the traders to adhere to the rules of the game.
At the event, NAFDAC’s FCT Director, Azikiwe urged traders to ensure proper storage of frozen products to maintain safety and quality, stressing the importance of buying locally produced and NAFDAC-registered goods.
Responding, Chairman of the Abuja Fish and Frozen Food Sellers Association, Ibrahim Mohammed, assured NAFDAC of members’ compliance with the guidelines and urged the agency to implement enforcement measures fairly.
Nigerians express disgust
Speaking on the implication of Nigerians’ exposure to all manners of dangerous products in the market, an Abuja-based medical professional, Nosa Efosa, advised Nigerians to be conscious of what they consume either as food, medication or drink.
He noted that the urge for quick money coupled with the current economic situation has led to the emergence of quacks in every area of our human endeavours.
He advised people to always look out for expiring dates of products alongside NAFDAC registration numbers before making purchases.
“As a medical professional, I always encourage my patients to buy drugs from trusted pharmacies. There are a lot of them out there. The major concern is the issue of cost. With the exit of some major pharmaceutical companies from Nigeria in recent times, the prices of drugs have skyrocketed.
“However, this is not to say fake drugs were not in our markets before now. The issue has always been the capacity to pay for them. Unfortunately, even the government is not making enough provision for health care so people have to seek medication for themselves. This gives room for a striving underground market in the industry.
“On NAFDAC’s efforts to sanitize the pharmacy and food industry, the first issue is that as long as there is a huge demand for low cost drugs there will always be some nefarious individuals who would take advantage of the situation.
“Outside, we all know the role of corruption in our society. The challenges are enormous, however with sincerity and a sense of commitment the government and her agencies can overcome,” he said.
A businessman, Emeka Anayo, blamed the government and NAFDAC for the growing incident of fake products in the market. According to him, the government is more interested in collections of revenue, hence there is little concern for proper supervision on the part of its agencies.
He narrated an ugly incident of his friend who wanted to register a particular food product through NAFDAC.
“Although the person in question took time to build his factory to specifications, installed the required equipment and meet the hygienic conditions, the people in NAFDAC refused to register him after two years.
“Imagine the cost implication on him knowing fully well that some of the funds used were borrowed.
“Unfortunately but true, the reason for the delay in accreditation in this case was that some persons in NAFDAC wanted gratification.”
Speaking further, he said “If my friend had not been lucky he would have been forced to look for alternatives. I can tell authoritatively that a good number of people choose the easy way of going for fake products because of the tedious route of getting things done normally through government agencies in the country.
“I can as well tell you that for every one person caught and paraded by NAFDAC or other agencies of government, there are ten others yet to be caught and may not be caught because they know how to navigate the Nigerian system. Am sure you know that the majority of those caught are people who refuse to play ball or want to be hunted by competitors or enemies.”
Enlightenment campaign, “Catch Them Young”
Meanwhile, NAFDAC has embarked on a series of enlightenment campaigns to tackle the menace.
In early January 2025, the agency initiated and commenced the inauguration of the “Catch Them Young” and the “Consumer Safety Club” programmes.
Both are aimed at educating secondary school students on the dangers of drug abuse, highlighting its negative consequences including poor academic performance, mental health issues, and physical harm.
While the Catch Them Young programme was inaugurated at Immaculate Heart Comprehensive Senior High School, Maryland, Lagos State, the Consumer Safety Club, was inaugurated at Community Secondary School, Okpuno, Awka, Anambra State.
So far, Consumer Safety Club has been launched at Government Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at Maryam Babangida Girls Science College, Minna, Niger State, Government Day Secondary School, Gandu, Gombe State, and Government Secondary School, Gwarinpa Estate, FCT, Abuja.
NAFDAC has launched the Consumer Safety Club at Government Secondary School, Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja, as part of its “Catch Them Young” initiative.
Speaking during the launch at Government Secondary School, Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja last Friday, Adeyeye, said the campaign is designed to educate school students on the dangers of drug abuse and empower them to make informed choices.
The NAFDAC Director General who was represented by Deputy Director of Narcotics and Controlled Substances, FCT, Paul Kamai, stressed that teenagers are particularly vulnerable, with drug abuse leading to addiction, mental health issues, and academic failure.
She encouraged students to resist peer pressure and seek professional help when needed.
The initiative, reinforced through the NCSC, aims to create drug-free schools while equipping students to advocate against counterfeit drugs and substance abuse.
Hajiya Ibrahim Fadilah, the school’s principal, praised the initiative and assured the school would fully support the club’s activities.
Students, including Head Boy, Victor Eugene and Social Prefect, Adah Victory, pledged to champion the fight against drug abuse and extend the campaign to other schools.
