The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised fresh alarm over the spread of counterfeit and substandard products across Nigeria.
The agency has linked the growing problem to Chinese counterfeiters who it says have established production and distribution networks within the country.
NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, disclosed this in Lagos on Monday, September 7.
He said recent investigations uncovered a new pattern among counterfeiters. According to him, some operators who previously worked from China now run parts of their businesses directly from Nigeria.
Chinese Counterfeiters Move Operations to Nigeria
Iluyomade explained that counterfeiters no longer need to ship every fake product from China.
“They are here (in Nigeria) with us,” he said.
According to the NAFDAC official, some of the operators identify products that sell well in Nigeria. They then arrange production and supply before distributing the goods locally.
He also alleged that some Chinese counterfeiters own logistics companies. These firms, he said, help move counterfeit products into the Nigerian market.
NAFDAC has already begun shutting down some of the companies linked to the alleged activities.
The agency’s claims come as concern over fake and substandard goods continues to grow. Manufacturers, medical professionals and economists have warned that counterfeit products threaten consumers and legitimate businesses.
NAFDAC Seizes Products Worth N1.5 Trillion
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, recently highlighted the scale of the agency’s enforcement operations.
She said NAFDAC destroyed regulated products worth more than N1.5 trillion during coordinated operations across Lagos and the South-East between February and March 2025.
The agency also reported that it had seized or destroyed more than N1.54 trillion worth of counterfeit, substandard and non-compliant products nationwide since 2023.
Fake Toothpaste Triggers Fresh Concern
Public concern over counterfeit consumer products grew on social media over the weekend.
Nigerians, including influencers Scott Iguma and Aproko Doctor, raised concerns about allegedly fake toothpaste, creams, contaminated bottled water and adulterated yoghurt drinks.
NAFDAC said it had received complaints through its official channels about suspected counterfeit toothpaste.
The complaints included products carrying the Oral-B and Colgate brand names.
Iluyomade said the agency had launched enforcement operations in several states.
He disclosed that NAFDAC had made arrests and seized suspected fake toothpaste in Kano, Sokoto, Delta and Onitsha in Anambra State.
The agency is also prosecuting two people over the alleged importation of counterfeit toothpaste brands.
Agency Records 64 Convictions
Adeyeye said NAFDAC has stepped up its campaign against counterfeit, falsified, substandard and unregistered products.
The agency recently carried out enforcement operations at the Upper Iweka drug market in Onitsha.
Iluyomade also highlighted NAFDAC’s recent success in prosecuting offenders.
He said the agency secured 64 convictions between June 2025 and June 2026, describing the figure as the highest in NAFDAC’s history.
Some offenders have also received prison sentences.
Iluyomade cited a December case involving a laboratory that produced counterfeit drinks. A judge sentenced the operator to five years in prison after finding the defendant guilty on all eight counts.
NAFDAC says it will continue its enforcement operations as it works to curb the production, distribution and sale of counterfeit products across Nigeria.
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