The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has urged Nigerians to provide credible information that can assist the agency in tackling the production and distribution of counterfeit, substandard and falsified drugs and other regulated products.
The NAFDAC Coordinator in Ondo State, Mr Ademola Razak, made the appeal in an exclusive interview with Orange FM.
He said the agency relies on public information and collaboration with stakeholders to strengthen its surveillance and enforcement activities.
Orange Fm’s Ebunoluwa Akinroyeje reports that in recent months, Nigerians have raised concerns over the reported circulation of fake, substandard and expired products, including drugs, toothpaste, bottled water, milk, cosmetics and alcoholic beverages.
According to the Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency, between February and March 2025, evacuated 137 truckloads of counterfeit products, equivalent to 40-foot containers, valued at over 1.5 trillion naira from Idumota Market in Lagos, Onitsha Market in Anambra State and Ariaria Market in Aba, Abia State.
The seized products included counterfeit Global Fund Artemether, fake antibiotics and fake cough syrups, among other products.
Speaking on the development, Razak said NAFDAC conducts routine surveillance and enforcement operations across the state, adding that the activities had yielded positive results.
He said the agency also engages relevant stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and prevent the proliferation of counterfeit products.
Razak appealed to members of the public and other well-meaning Nigerians to promptly alert NAFDAC whenever they notice suspicious production, distribution or sale of counterfeit products.
He explained that offenders apprehended for violating relevant regulations are prosecuted and, upon conviction, may be fined or sentenced to prescribed terms of imprisonment.
Meanwhile, members of the public have called on NAFDAC to complement its seizure operations with sustained market sanitisation, stronger prosecution of offenders and increased public enlightenment to help consumers identify counterfeit and substandard products.
