NAFDAC uncovers illegal herbal products factory in Lagos, arrests manager

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered an illegal herbal products factory in Agege, Lagos, where unregistered products were allegedly manufactured under unhygienic conditions, with one bearing a fake registration number belonging to a registered cough syrup.

The agency sealed the facility and arrested its manager, Abulaziz Sayidu, for questioning, while the alleged owner, Ashietu Adams, reportedly fled.

The Deputy Director in the Pharmaceutical Division of NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Pharmacist Edith Joseph, disclosed this on Thursday, October 22, during an inspection of the facility.

Joseph said the agency received intelligence on October 16 about a product identified as Aishetu Adams Bitters, which allegedly carried a falsified NAFDAC registration number. She said officers conducted surveillance and gathered intelligence before locating the facility concealed within a residential building.

“What we found was shocking. The facility was in a very poor and unhygienic condition. Look at the water they use for production and the environment where the manufacturing takes place. The products are manufactured outdoors, in the open air. I can tell you that this facility is not approved by NAFDAC,” she said.

According to Joseph, three products were found at the site: Ashietu Adams Herbal Mixture for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), Ashietu Adams Blood Purifier and another product claimed to treat high blood pressure.

She said none was registered with NAFDAC and that the registration number displayed on the blood purifier belonged to an approved cough syrup.

“They simply copied the number and placed it on their product to deceive Nigerians,” Joseph said, warning that the products posed potential health risks because their ingredients, manufacturing processes and safety had not been verified by the agency.

NAFDAC evacuated the products and sealed the facility pending further investigation.

Joseph said Sayidu told investigators that Adams, whom he identified as a Ghanaian woman, had travelled to Ghana. Sayidu also said he had worked with her for about a year, helping to manage the business when she was away.

Although the packaging indicated that the products originated from Ghana, Joseph said it contained neither the manufacturer’s name nor a verifiable address. The products also lacked batch numbers, making their origin and traceability difficult to establish.

She urged Nigerians to verify product registration through NAFDAC’s online platforms and the agency’s Greenbook rather than relying solely on numbers printed on packaging.

“If the name displayed does not match the product being presented, consumers should know that something is wrong,” she said.

Joseph advised consumers, particularly those in rural communities with limited internet access, to visit the nearest NAFDAC office to verify products before purchasing or consuming them. She also urged Nigerians to avoid products without valid registration details, a manufacturer’s name or a verifiable address.

Also speaking during the inspection, NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Mrs Christiana Obiazikwor, called for greater public participation in efforts to combat counterfeit and unregistered products.

She said the agency was expanding public awareness campaigns through radio programmes, multilingual jingles and community outreach, including its NAFDAC and Your Health programme. Officials also conduct sensitisation activities in local government areas, churches and schools to educate residents on identifying suspicious products and reporting illegal manufacturing operations.

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Obiazikwor warned landlords and property owners against allowing their premises to be used for illegal production, saying those found to have aided criminal activities could face prosecution.

She urged property owners to monitor their tenants’ activities and report suspicious operations, assuring the public that reports of suspected illegal manufacturing would be handled discreetly.

“We cannot fight this battle alone. Every Nigerian has a role to play in identifying and reporting places where illegal manufacturing activities are taking place,” she said.

NAFDAC said its investigation into the facility, the products and the whereabouts of the alleged owner was ongoing as of Thursday, October 22.