NAFDAC: N1.54tn Fake Products Destroyed 2023-2026

• NAFDAC has destroyed or seized over N1.54 trillion worth of fake and substandard products nationwide since 2023.
• A single coordinated operation in February-March 2025 across Lagos and the South-East accounted for over N1.5 trillion in destructions, including 137 truckloads from major markets.
• The agency secured 64 convictions for counterfeiting, leading to prison sentences of one to seven years without fine.
• Specific destruction operations included N27.8 billion in pharmaceuticals and N12 billion in counterfeit beverages and foods.
• NAFDAC's Post-Market Surveillance Directorate visited 6,233 facilities and removed 7,210 illicit brands between May and July 2026.

Professor Mojisola Adeyeye summarized NAFDAC's comprehensive response from 2023 to the present, noting that the agency's efforts have yielded billions in seizures, hundreds of arrests, dozens of convictions, and destructions valued in the trillions of naira.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reported the destruction or seizure of counterfeit and substandard goods valued at over N1.54 trillion nationwide since 2023, signaling an aggressive stance against illicit trade. This comprehensive crackdown includes a single, coordinated operation conducted across Lagos and Nigeria's South-East region between February and March 2025, which alone accounted for the destruction of regulated products exceeding N1.5 trillion in value.

Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, addressed the public in Lagos, acknowledging the widespread concern regarding the proliferation of fake and substandard regulated products throughout the country. She vehemently condemned counterfeiters, labeling them "merchants of death" and pledging a policy of absolute zero tolerance. This strong declaration followed a report highlighting the pressure faced by NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) due to the rampant availability of counterfeited consumer goods, foods, drugs, and cosmetics, all suspected of being fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous.

As part of the intensified enforcement, NAFDAC executed simultaneous raids on major commercial hubs, including Idumota Market, Onitsha Market, and the Ariaria International Market in Aba. These operations, carried out between February and March 2025, resulted in the confiscation and subsequent destruction of an astonishing volume of illicit goods. More than 137 40-foot trucks were filled with these counterfeit and substandard products, which were then evacuated and destroyed, underscoring the scale of the agency's intervention.

NAFDAC's enforcement efforts extend beyond general market raids, encompassing targeted destruction exercises for specific categories of illicit products. The agency reported that in February 2026, it oversaw the destruction of fake, expired, counterfeit, and banned medicines worth over N15 billion in Ibadan, Oyo State. This significant haul included dangerous substances such as Analgin, Co-codamol, various codeine syrups, Tramadol, Oxytocin, and expired vaccines, leading to the arrest of a suspect linked to a smuggled container.

Further operations in Ibadan saw the destruction of expired and unregistered drugs valued at N11 billion in December 2024. In March 2026, another N1.8 billion worth of counterfeit medicines, banned sachet alcohol below 200ml, narcotics, antibiotics, antimalarials, fake milk, skin-lightening creams, counterfeit insecticides, and medical devices were destroyed in Kuje, Abuja. Cumulatively, these drug and pharmaceutical-related destructions alone amounted to N27.8 billion.

Beyond pharmaceuticals, NAFDAC also targeted counterfeit beverages, spirits, and revalidated foods. In December 2023, operations in Aba, Abia State, led to the destruction of N5 billion worth of such products and the closure of 150 shops. A follow-up raid in the same location in December 2024 resulted in the shutdown of 250 additional shops and the discovery of N7 billion worth of similar illicit items. The combined value of these Aba-based beverage and food destructions reached N12 billion. Overall, the street market value of products destroyed nationwide in 2024 alone surpassed N120 billion.

The aggressive enforcement by NAFDAC is not limited to seizures and destructions; it also includes robust legal action against perpetrators. The agency, under the leadership of Professor Mojisola Adeyeye and with the involvement of Iluyomade Martins, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, has successfully secured 64 convictions for counterfeiting offenses across Nigeria. These convictions have resulted in severe penalties, with prison sentences ranging from one to seven years, notably without the option of a fine, underscoring the gravity with which these crimes are treated.

Specific examples of these judicial outcomes, recorded between June 2025 and June 2026, highlight the agency's commitment to holding offenders accountable. A five-year prison term was handed down for faking Global Fund Artemether, a critical antimalarial drug. Another five-year sentence was imposed for offenses related to cough and cold syrup containing codeine. Lesser terms included 12 months for the production of fake ointments and condoms, while a seven-year sentence was secured for individuals involved in the counterfeiting of antibiotics.

Professor Adeyeye summarized NAFDAC's comprehensive response from 2023 to the present, noting that the agency's efforts have yielded billions in seizures, hundreds of arrests, dozens of convictions, and destructions valued in the trillions of naira. This multi-pronged approach aims to dismantle the entire supply chain of illicit products, from production to distribution.

Beyond reactive enforcement, NAFDAC maintains a proactive surveillance strategy to safeguard public health. Its Post-Market Surveillance Directorate conducted extensive monitoring activities between May and July 2026, visiting 6,233 facilities across the country. During this period, the directorate successfully identified and removed 7,210 distinct brands and products from circulation.

These surveillance efforts spanned a wide array of regulated categories, including food and water products, various drugs and herbal remedies, medical devices, critical vaccines and biologics, and cosmetics. The systematic removal of these non-compliant items demonstrates NAFDAC's commitment to ensuring that only safe and effective products are available to Nigerian consumers. The agency's sustained pressure, as articulated by Professor Adeyeye, reflects a resolute determination to eradicate the menace of fake and substandard goods from Nigerian markets, protecting citizens from potentially life-threatening counterfeits.

Businesses involved in the production, distribution, or sale of regulated products in Nigeria must urgently review their compliance frameworks and supply chain due diligence. NAFDAC's aggressive enforcement, including large-scale destructions and significant prison sentences for counterfeiting, signals a heightened risk of severe penalties and financial losses for non-compliant entities.

Source: Reporting based on Punch Newspaper's coverage.