NAFDAC destroys N22.73bn in unsafe products, records 5,542 enforcement operations

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed unsafe and non-compliant products worth ₦22.73 billion in eight months, as its nationwide crackdown recorded 5,542 enforcement activities between January and August 2026.

The figures highlight the scale of the fight against falsified medicines, substandard cosmetics, unsafe drinks, adulterated food, and other products that pose potential risks to public health.

Under the leadership of its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC carried out 213 raids, recorded 821 product seizure entries, closed or sealed 179 premises, and made 52 arrests during the period.

The agency also opened 474 new cases, concluded 295, and conducted 22 destruction exercises, according to data from its Directorate of Investigation and Enforcement.

Enforcement activity gathered pace as the year progressed, rising from 232 operations in January to 1,089 in July, the highest monthly figure recorded during the period. August followed with 941 activities.

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The value of destroyed products also surged, reaching ₦22.58 billion by the end of July before climbing to ₦22.73 billion in August.

July accounted for the biggest monthly destruction value, with four exercises involving goods worth ₦9.03 billion. In June, eight destruction exercises involved products valued at ₦6.40 billion, while five exercises in May accounted for ₦3.30 billion.

Cosmetics, drinks, and drugs featured prominently in the seizure records. Cosmetics accounted for 401 entries, followed by drinks with 215, drugs with 112, food products with 69, and chemicals with 22.

The figures show that NAFDAC’s enforcement burden extends beyond counterfeit medicines to a wide range of regulated products, including beverages, personal-care products, food, and chemicals.

The agency’s operations involve more than raids and seizures. They also include surveillance, investigations, evidence gathering, laboratory analysis where necessary, administrative sanctions, and referrals for legal action.

The conclusion of 295 cases during the eight-month period reflects progress in moving investigations through the enforcement process, although the figures do not specify the outcomes of individual cases.

The scale of the operations also underscores the persistent challenge of keeping unsafe, falsified, unregistered, and substandard products out of the Nigerian market.

Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers are expected to comply with applicable registration, labeling, storage, and quality requirements, while consumers can support enforcement by purchasing from reputable outlets and reporting suspicious products to the authorities.

Despite the substantial volume and value of enforcement activity, seizures and destruction alone cannot guarantee lasting protection; stronger intelligence, market surveillance, laboratory capacity, prosecution where warranted, and public awareness remain crucial to preventing unsafe goods from reaching consumers.

The ₦22.73 billion destruction figure therefore represents both the scale of NAFDAC’s crackdown and a stark reminder of the potential public health risks posed by products intercepted before they could cause harm.