The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has seized and destroyed counterfeit and unwholesome products worth more than N5.3bn in a week.
The agency’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Christiana Obiazikwor, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, detailing operations involving suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages, repackaged products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, tomato paste and biscuits.
According to her, NAFDAC seized suspected counterfeit alcoholic drinks and illegally brewed or repackaged products valued at N2bn at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex on October 13.
The agency also seized suspected fake drinks and packaging materials worth more than N700m in Aba, Abia State, while goods valued at N2.6bn were destroyed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday.
Obiazikwor said operatives uncovered more than 20 illegal stores at Zamfara Plaza, within the Trade Fair Complex, where they discovered activities involving the counterfeiting of popular alcoholic beverage brands, the revalidation of expired drinks and the stockpiling of banned imported products.
She added that two suspects were arrested during the operation and the seized products were evacuated from the premises.
Fake drinks, packaging materials uncovered in Aba
In Aba, NAFDAC operatives raided five shops at Old Court Road Market over suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages and packaging materials.
Obiazikwor said the products seized during the operation were valued at more than N700m.
According to the agency, the materials included fake labels, corks, packs and outer packaging bearing the names of established brands.
NAFDAC said its officers encountered resistance from traders during the operation, affecting the evacuation of the materials.
The agency added that the shop owners were absent and the premises were placed on hold to prevent interference with the items left behind.
Speaking on another discovery, Obiazikwor said NAFDAC officials uncovered a suspected alcoholic beverage counterfeiting operation at No. 25 Omenazu Street, Aba, on October 15.
She said the facility was allegedly used to produce spirits and herbal liqueurs under unhygienic conditions.
According to her, the operator fled after officials arrived at the facility following a tip-off, abandoning his car.
She said a vehicle there contained labels and products bearing the names Sir Edwards Scotch Whisky and Scottish Hills Whisky, as well as empty bottles in the boot.
“A drum containing about 200 litres of liquid and a product branded Café Rum Whisky were also found,” Obiazikwor added.
She said operatives also discovered 200-litre drums containing ethanol, plastic buckets, pieces of tree bark, packaging materials, corks, tanks containing liquid mixtures, dirty sieves, sealing machines, bottles bearing popular brand names and cartons.
Obiazikwor said the materials and facility were valued at more than N500m.
N2.6bn goods destroyed in Port Harcourt
In a separate exercise in Port Harcourt, NAFDAC destroyed products valued at N2.6bn, according to Obiazikwor.
The goods included pharmaceutical products, chemicals, tomato paste, biscuits and other items the agency described as unwholesome. They were intercepted and seized by the Nigeria Customs Service at Onne Port between 2025 and 2026.
The Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Nigeria, Dr Martins Iluyomade, who represented NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, spoke at the destruction site on Friday.
Iluyomade, who is also NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, said the exercise demonstrated cooperation between the agency and the Nigeria Customs Service in disposing of seized goods.
He said the process began in 2025 and that both agencies had signed memoranda of understanding to facilitate the destruction of the products.
“This gesture corroborates the existing good relationship we have between NAFDAC and the Nigeria Customs Service. We have MoUs signed, but we have people who have to work behind the scenes to make sure that the MoUs work.
“The willingness of the officers of the two agencies to make the MoU work is what has led to what we are doing today,” he said.
Iluyomade said the exercise was the first phase, adding that more seized goods were expected to be brought from the port for destruction.
“What you see here right now, this is the flag-up; others are still coming out of the port, and I want to urge the Nigeria Customs Service to quickly facilitate the remaining containers to be here on time for destruction,” he added.
He called for cooperation among government agencies involved in the fight against counterfeit products and illicit activities, warning against inter-agency rivalry.
Representing the Enforcement Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Area II Command, Superintendent of Customs Elizabeth Abosede commended NAFDAC for the exercise.
The South-South Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Chukwuma Oligbu, represented by his deputy, Rita Chukwuma, said the exercise was part of the agency’s regulatory functions.
She added that the objective was to rid communities of fake and substandard products.
Public health risks
A public health expert, Olusoji Aramide, said adulterated alcoholic beverages could expose consumers to harmful substances.
He added that counterfeit or substandard medicines might contain incorrect ingredients, inadequate quantities of active ingredients or contaminants, potentially undermining treatment and putting patients at risk.
Aramide said counterfeit packaging could also make products appear genuine and conceal their origins, expiry dates or contents.
NAFDAC has urged Nigerians to remain vigilant about suspicious products and report illegal manufacturing, repackaging and sales activities to the agency.