The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Saturday confiscated banned, expired, and unregistered products worth over N1.5 billion during an operation in Lagos. The enforcement action was carried out by NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate at the cosmetics section of the Trade Fair market. A truck loaded with counterfeit products regulated by the agency was also intercepted.
The operation was led by Martins Iluyomade, Director of Investigation and Enforcement. Addressing the press afterwards, Iluyomade said the raid was part of NAFDAC’s broader national strategy to rid Nigerian markets of harmful and non-compliant goods.
“We’ve received numerous complaints from Nigerians regarding unsafe products. This operation is a continuation of our efforts to ensure only safe items remain in circulation. Some of the confiscated items are banned substances smuggled in without undergoing the necessary testing,” he said.
He revealed that many expired products were discovered still being displayed in warehouse shelves. The total estimated value of the seized goods surpassed N1.5 billion. According to him, the owners of the affected warehouses have been invited for questioning, and if found culpable, will be prosecuted. Iluyomade explained that NAFDAC conducts both visual inspections and laboratory testing to determine the safety of regulated items.
“Visual checks help us identify products that do not meet basic packaging or labelling requirements. These are followed by lab analyses to confirm whether the contents are compliant with health and safety standards,” he stated. He warned that some products, although appearing normal, may contain dangerous or cancer-causing substances. He stressed that all products—whether imported or locally produced—must meet NAFDAC’s regulatory standards before being sold.
“Some traders try to bypass registration and testing processes, which puts consumers at serious risk,” Iluyomade said. He emphasised that food and drug safety is a national security issue. “One of the easiest ways to harm a population silently is through tainted food or skincare products,” he noted. Iluyomade called for increased awareness and responsibility among citizens, warning against harmful trading practices. He also stated that while NAFDAC supports legitimate businesses, consumer safety remains the agency’s top priority.
“Our mission is not to shut businesses down but to ensure that all parties—producers, sellers, and buyers—are protected,” he added. He reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to continuing the nationwide crackdown on substandard, banned, and expired products.
Dource: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/
