Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized banned, expired, and unregistered products valued at more than N1.5 billion in a major enforcement operation at the Trade Fair market in Lagos.
The raid, which took place on Saturday, targeted the cosmetics section of the market and forms part of the agency’s ongoing crackdown on unsafe consumer goods.
NAFDAC officials also intercepted a truckload of counterfeit products during the operation.
Dr. Martins Iluyomade, Director of Investigation and Enforcement, who led the exercise, said it was a continuation of the agency’s efforts to remove dangerous items from circulation following numerous complaints from the public.
“We’ve received many complaints from Nigerians about unsafe products, and this exercise continues our efforts to remove such items from circulation,” Iluyomade said.
He explained that many of the confiscated goods were either banned or expired products that had entered the country illegally, bypassing the necessary safety and quality checks.
Large quantities of expired goods were also found still being offered for sale in warehouses.
“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.
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Warehouse owners linked to the seized items have been invited for questioning.
Iluyomade warned that if found guilty, they would face legal consequences.
“If found guilty, they will face appropriate legal consequences,” he said, adding that the agency is prepared to pursue prosecutions where needed.
He explained that NAFDAC applies a two-stage process to evaluate product safety, starting with visual checks to ensure correct labeling and packaging, followed by laboratory testing to assess the chemical content.
“Some items may appear normal but contain harmful or carcinogenic chemicals,” he said.
Iluyomade stressed that food and drug regulation is not just a public health issue but a matter of national security.
“One way to silently harm people are through contaminated food or skincare products,” he said, calling for greater national awareness and attention.
According to Nairametrics, Iluyomade acknowledged the importance of business and commerce but emphasized that NAFDAC’s primary responsibility is to safeguard consumers.
“Our mission is not anti-business.
We aim to guide and protect everyone, including the business owners,” he stated.
Saturday’s operation reflects mounting concern over the spread of counterfeit and substandard goods in Nigerian markets, products that can cause anything from minor health problems to serious and life-threatening conditions.
Analysts say the size of the seizure underscores both the scale of the illegal trade and the challenges regulators face in overseeing Nigeria’s vast consumer markets.
Iluyomade urged Nigerians to be cautious about what they buy and to avoid harmful practices that endanger public health.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to aggressive enforcement, warning that traders who skip the registration and testing process will face consequences.
“All imported or locally made products must comply with NAFDAC standards before distribution,” he said.
With the latest raid, NAFDAC has again made clear its determination to protect Nigerians from the dangers of counterfeit and expired products.
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Image Credit: Nairametrics
