Director, Investigation and Enforcement, Martin Iluyomade, DG-NAFDAC, Prof Moji Adeyeye and Director Food Safety and Applied Nutrition FSAN, Mrs Eva Edwards during the press conference held in Lagos on Monday.
Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has defended its efforts to curb the circulation of fake, falsified and substandard regulated products following growing public concern over suspected counterfeit foods, medicines and other consumer products in Nigerian markets. The agency said it had removed 7,210 products from circulation after visiting 6,233 facilities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory between May and July 2026.
The development follows reports, highlighting an online outcry over suspected fake and unsafe products, including yoghurt, palm oil, fruits, soy sauce, olive oil, chicken, fish, water, beverages and toothpaste. While acknowledging the concerns raised by Nigerians, NAFDAC said social media allegations alone could not establish that a product was counterfeit, adulterated or unsafe without scientific verification.
“The strength of the publication could have been enhanced by a proper scientific evaluation rather than relying primarily on emotionally driven and perhaps commercially motivated social media narratives,” the agency said in its response. NAFDAC said credible reports of suspected counterfeit or unsafe products remained important sources of regulatory intelligence, but urged consumers to use its established complaint channels so allegations could be investigated and verified.
According to figures provided by the agency, food and water accounted for the largest number of products mopped up during the three-month period, with 3,633 products removed. Drugs and herbals followed with 2,459 products, while cosmetics accounted for 911 products. Medical devices accounted for 183 products, chemicals 21 and vaccines and biologics three. Drugs and herbals recorded the highest number of facilities visited at 2,084, followed by food and water with 1,808 facilities.