The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake and substandard products worth N5.3 billion in the last one week, as part of its intensified nationwide war against counterfeit drugs, foods and other regulated products.
The operations targeted fake alcoholic beverages, illicit repackaging operations and imported products intercepted at the main eastern seaport.
NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Christiana Obiazikwor, disclosed this in an exclusive interview detailing operations involving suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages, repackaged products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, tomato paste and biscuits.
She said its operatives found more than 20 illegal stores at Zamfara Plaza in the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex on October 13.
She alleged the premises were used to counterfeit well-known alcoholic-drink brands, revalidate expired beverages and stockpile banned imports.
Obiazikwor also said NAFDAC seized suspected counterfeit, illegally brewed or repackaged products valued at 2 billion naira and arrested two suspects.
In Aba, Abia State, NAFDAC raided five shops at Old Court Road Market, seizing suspected fake drinks and packaging materials worth more than 700 million naira.
The materials included counterfeit labels, corks, packs and outer packaging bearing established brands’ names.
She added that traders resisted officials during the evacuation and that shop owners were absent; they placed the premises on hold to protect the remaining items.
Also, a separate raid on October 15 at a facility on Omenazu Street uncovered an alleged illicit spirits and herbal-liqueur operation.
Obiazikwor said the operator fled, leaving behind a vehicle and materials—including ethanol drums, liquid mixtures, dirty sieves, sealing machines, bottles and packaging bearing popular brand names—valued at more than 500 million naira.
In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, operatives destroyed goods valued at 2.6 billion naira on Friday.
The items included pharmaceuticals, chemicals, tomato paste, biscuits and other products the agency described as unwholesome; Nigeria Customs Service had intercepted them at Onne Port between 2025 and 2026.
Martins Iluyomade, who chairs the federal task force on counterfeit and fake drugs and represents NAFDAC’s Director-General, said the destruction marked the first phase of a broader disposal exercise.
He said additional containers remained at the port and urged Customs to expedite their release for destruction.
He warned that adulterated alcohol can expose consumers to harmful substances, while counterfeit or substandard medicines may contain the wrong ingredients, insufficient active ingredients or contaminants.
Counterfeit packaging can also make products appear authentic while concealing their origin, expiry date or contents.
The chairman urged consumers to report suspicious products and illegal manufacturing, repackaging or sales activity.
The week’s actions underscore both the scale of the counterfeit-goods market and NAFDAC’s reliance on coordinated enforcement with customs authorities.
