The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has raised fresh concerns over the spread of counterfeit and substandard products in Nigeria, saying some Chinese nationals involved in counterfeiting have established operations within the country.
NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, disclosed that recent investigations uncovered counterfeiters who previously operated outside Nigeria but have now established production facilities and distribution networks locally.
According to Iluyomade, the agency also discovered that some logistics companies allegedly linked to the counterfeit trade were being used to move fake products across the country. He said NAFDAC had begun shutting down logistics firms found to be involved in the activities.
The disclosure comes amid growing public concern over the increasing circulation of fake products, with manufacturers, medical experts and economists warning about the impact on consumers, legitimate businesses and the wider economy.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency destroyed regulated products worth more than N1.5 trillion during a coordinated operation conducted across Lagos and the South-East between February and March 2025.
She added that the agency had destroyed or seized counterfeit, falsified, substandard and unregistered products worth more than N1.54 trillion nationwide since 2023.
The agency has also received complaints concerning suspected counterfeit toothpaste, particularly products carrying the Oral-B and Colgate brands.
Iluyomade said investigations into the complaints had led to arrests and seizures in Kano, Sokoto, Delta and Anambra states. Two individuals are currently facing prosecution over alleged importation of counterfeit toothpaste.
NAFDAC said its enforcement operations had also yielded significant results in other parts of the country, including the Upper Iweka drug market in Onitsha.
Iluyomade disclosed that the agency secured 64 convictions between June 2025 and June 2026, describing the figure as the highest recorded in NAFDAC’s history.
He said the agency would continue pursuing individuals and businesses involved in the manufacture, importation and distribution of fake and unregistered products as part of efforts to protect public health and legitimate commerce in Nigeria.
