The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) received 225 complaints about suspected counterfeit goods in August.
NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye briefed reporters on Monday about the agency’s efforts to combat dangerous, adulterated and counterfeit products sold across the country.
She said NAFDAC receives more than 200 complaints from Nigerians every month through its complaint channels. According to her, the reports provide crucial leads for further investigations.
“We received over 200 complaints from Nigerians monthly; in August we received 225 calls through NAFDAC complaint channel,” NAN quoted Adeyeye as saying.
The NAFDAC DG advised Nigerians to report suspected counterfeiters through the agency’s official complaint channels rather than relying solely on social media to raise concerns about products.
“Counterfeiters are not ghosts; they exist within our communities, neighbourhoods, and business premises,” she said.
Adeyeye said NAFDAC’s 24-hour call centre and other complaint channels allow the agency to assess reports and determine whether further investigation is necessary.
She said the agency had taken note of concerns about potentially adulterated, counterfeit and dangerous food products following recent media reports and social media discussions about yoghurt, palm oil, apples, soy sauce, olive oil, chicken, fish, water and beverages.
Adeyeye emphasised the importance of scientific testing and regulatory scrutiny. However, she warned that social media accusations alone could not prove that a product was hazardous or counterfeit.
Unbranded products like palm oil, fufu, beyond our limit
According to Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s regulatory mandate in the food sector primarily covers packaged and processed goods, spanning laboratory analysis, facility inspections, product sampling, post-market surveillance, compliance monitoring, complaint investigations, product verification, recalls, and enforcement actions.
Under the NAFDAC Act and related statutory frameworks, it remains illegal to manufacture, distribute, import, export, advertise, sell, or utilize unregistered regulated items.
The Director-General noted that when violations are established, the agency holds the legal authority to confiscate, recall, or destroy non-compliant products.
Adeyeye also clarified that NAFDAC’s oversight does not extend to certain raw or unprocessed items recently featured in public reports, particularly imported agricultural commodities.
She further emphasized the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration, clarifying that the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service retains primary jurisdiction over imported agricultural produce, such as apples, grapes, and oranges.
According to the Director-General, the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality, along with its 2023 implementation plan, establishes the structural framework for this inter-agency coordination.
She also raised concerns over the adulteration of palm oil with azo dyes and other hazardous chemical additives, noting that the practice is particularly prevalent among conventionally packaged supplies sold across open markets.
“The adulteration of palm oil with azo dyes and other hazardous contaminants has been observed, particularly in palm oil packaged and presented in traditional forms,” she said.
“Fufu and other staple foods are also reported to be produced by adding bleach and other chemicals injurious to human health.”
Backstory…
This comes amid recent surge in counterfeit across Nigerian markets. Over the past week, videos across social media showed Nigerians sharing their experience with some counterfiete products, rasing concern about NAFDAC’s role and effort in safeguarding the masses.
Several X users shared their own experiences and broader lists of suspected fake products. Their reports included dyed palm oil, painted apples changed from green to red, fake soy sauce and olive oil, inferior or counterfeit chicken and fish, fake water and soda, fake cocktails and alcohol, as well as Hollandia products with varying textures and flavours purchased from different locations.
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