The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has attributed the increasing circulation of fake, adulterated and unsafe consumer products in Nigeria to Chinese syndicates operating within the country.
NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, disclosed that intelligence gathered by the agency showed that counterfeiters had changed their methods, moving from simply importing fake products to establishing production and distribution networks locally.
According to Iluyomade, the syndicates identify products that sell quickly in the Nigerian market, send samples to China for replication and subsequently distribute the counterfeit versions through logistics companies allegedly controlled by them.
“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,” he said.
Iluyomade disclosed that NAFDAC had commenced the shutdown of illegal logistics facilities allegedly connected to the foreign led counterfeit networks.
The agency’s warning comes amid growing concerns over the circulation of substandard consumer products, including fake cosmetics, adulterated toothpaste, contaminated bottled water and unsafe dairy products.
NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said enforcement operations conducted in Lagos and parts of the South East resulted in the seizure and destruction of counterfeit and substandard products valued at more than N1.5 trillion.
Adeyeye further disclosed that between June 2025 and June 2026, NAFDAC secured 64 convictions against counterfeiters, describing the figure as the highest recorded in the agency’s history.
The agency also said 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 before federal courts.
