NAFDAC Nigeria: N5.3bn Fake Product Destruction Enforced

• NAFDAC destroyed counterfeit and unwholesome products valued at N5.3 billion within a single week.
• Operations included seizures of N2 billion in Lagos and N700 million in Aba, targeting fake alcoholic beverages and packaging materials.
• An illicit facility producing spirits under unhygienic conditions, valued over N500 million, was also uncovered in Aba.
• Goods worth N2.6 billion, previously seized by the Nigeria Customs Service, were destroyed in Port Harcourt.
• These actions underscore NAFDAC's aggressive enforcement against counterfeit products and highlight increased regulatory risks for businesses in Nigeria.

This aggressive enforcement action highlights increased regulatory risk for businesses involved in the production, distribution, or sale of counterfeit or unwholesome products, necessitating robust internal controls and intellectual property protection strategies.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recently executed a significant operation, resulting in the NAFDAC N5.3bn fake product destruction Nigeria within a single week. This extensive action targeted a wide array of illicit items, including suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages, improperly repackaged goods, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, tomato paste, and biscuits, underscoring the agency's commitment to public health and safety.

Christiana Obiazikwor, NAFDAC's Deputy Director of Public Relations, provided details of these operations in an exclusive interview. Her statements confirmed the substantial value of the seized and destroyed goods, highlighting the scale of the challenge posed by counterfeit and unwholesome products in the Nigerian market. The enforcement activities spanned multiple key locations, including major seizures in Lagos and Aba, culminating in a large-scale destruction exercise in Port Harcourt.

In Lagos, NAFDAC operatives conducted a raid at the International Trade Fair Complex on October 13, seizing suspected counterfeit alcoholic drinks and illegally repackaged items valued at N2 billion. This operation uncovered more than 20 illicit stores within Zamfara Plaza, where activities ranged from the counterfeiting of popular alcoholic beverage brands to the revalidation of expired drinks and the stockpiling of banned imported products. Two suspects were apprehended during this enforcement action, and the compromised products were subsequently removed from the premises.

Further operations in Aba, Abia State, led to the seizure of suspected fake drinks and packaging materials worth over N700 million from five shops in the Old Court Road Market. These materials included counterfeit labels, corks, packs, and outer packaging bearing the names of established brands. Despite encountering resistance from traders, which complicated the evacuation process, NAFDAC placed the premises on hold as the shop owners were absent. Additionally, on October 15, NAFDAC officials uncovered an alleged alcoholic beverage counterfeiting facility at 25 Omenazu Street in Aba. This site, valued at over N500 million, was reportedly producing spirits and herbal liqueurs under unsanitary conditions. The operator fled upon the arrival of officials, abandoning a vehicle containing labels for brands like Sir Edwards Scotch Whisky and Scottish Hills Whisky, along with empty bottles, a 200-litre drum of liquid, Café Rum Whisky, ethanol, various packaging materials, and production equipment.

A separate and substantial exercise in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, saw NAFDAC destroy goods valued at N2.6 billion. This destruction included pharmaceuticals, chemicals, tomato paste, biscuits, and other items deemed unwholesome. These particular products had been intercepted and seized by the Nigeria Customs Service at Onne Port between 2025 and 2026, demonstrating inter-agency cooperation in Nigeria counterfeit product enforcement. Dr. Martins Iluyomade, Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Nigeria, was noted in connection with these efforts.

The combined value of these seizures and destructions underscores the persistent challenge of illicit trade and the proactive stance of NAFDAC in ensuring food and drug regulatory compliance Nigeria. The agency's actions, particularly the NAFDAC N5.3bn fake product destruction Nigeria, send a clear message to those involved in the production and distribution of unwholesome products. This comprehensive approach, targeting both manufacturing sites and distribution networks, is vital for safeguarding public health and maintaining market integrity.

This aggressive enforcement action highlights increased regulatory risk for businesses involved in the production, distribution, or sale of counterfeit or unwholesome products, necessitating robust internal controls and intellectual property protection strategies. The substantial NAFDAC N5.3bn fake product destruction Nigeria serves as a critical reminder for legal professionals and compliance officers to advise clients, especially those in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors, on the imperative of enhancing their supply chain due diligence and NAFDAC compliance protocols.

The focus on counterfeit alcoholic beverages NAFDAC operations, alongside other product categories, indicates a broad regulatory sweep. The scale of the unwholesome products destruction Nigeria reflects NAFDAC's unwavering commitment to its mandate. Businesses must therefore prioritize stringent adherence to regulatory standards to mitigate legal and reputational risks in an environment of intensified regulatory oversight.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Nigeria should advise clients, particularly those in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors, to enhance their supply chain due diligence and NAFDAC compliance protocols. This aggressive enforcement action highlights increased regulatory risk for businesses involved in the production, distribution, or sale of counterfeit or unwholesome products, necessitating robust internal controls and intellectual property protection strategies.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH Newspaper