The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm over a disturbing shift in how fake and substandard products find their way into Nigerian markets. The agency is pointing fingers at Chinese syndicates now operating directly within the country.
Speaking on the development, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, revealed that intelligence gathered by the agency shows that counterfeit networks are no longer importing fake goods from abroad. Instead, they’ve set up full-scale production and distribution operations right here in Nigeria.
According to Iluyomade, the syndicates have refined their operations. They now study the market, identify fast-selling products, ship samples to China for replication, and then flood Nigerian markets with counterfeit versions, all distributed through logistics companies they secretly own and control.
“Before, to fake a product, you needed to go to China to bring it. Now, they are here with us. They identify moving products, send samples to China, and distribute them locally through logistics companies they own,” Iluyomade said.
He disclosed that NAFDAC has already begun cracking down on the network, shutting down illegal logistics facilities linked to the operation.
This revelation comes amid growing public concern over the circulation of dangerous fake products across the country, ranging from counterfeit cosmetics and adulterated toothpaste to contaminated bottled water and unsafe dairy products, all posing serious health risks to unsuspecting Nigerians.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed that recent enforcement operations in Lagos and the South-East led to the seizure and destruction of fake and substandard goods worth over N1.5 trillion.
She also revealed that between June 2025 and June 2026, the agency secured 64 convictions against counterfeiters, the highest number recorded in NAFDAC’s history.
Adding to the crackdown, several suspects arrested in Kano, Sokoto, Delta, and Anambra states over the alleged importation and distribution of counterfeit oral care products are currently facing prosecution in federal courts.
Behind The Crackdown: Nigeria’s Long Battle Against Counterfeit Goods
NAFDAC’s fight against fake products isn’t new, but the discovery of foreign syndicates now manufacturing locally marks a troubling escalation. For years, the agency has battled counterfeiters who imported fake goods through Nigeria’s porous borders and busy seaports.
This latest development shows a strategic shift by these criminal networks, one that makes detection and enforcement even more complex, since production now happens on Nigerian soil rather than overseas.
With counterfeit products ranging from everyday cosmetics to essential dairy items, the health implications for millions of Nigerian consumers remain a major concern. NAFDAC’s recent wave of convictions and multi-billion-naira seizures signals an intensified push to dismantle these networks, but experts say sustained collaboration between security agencies, logistics regulators, and international partners will be key to curbing the trend long-term.
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