NAFDAC Destroys N1.5 Trillion Fake Goods, Secures 64 Convictions

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its nationwide campaign against counterfeit and substandard regulated products, reporting the destruction of fake goods valued at more than N1.5 trillion. The agency also disclosed that 64 offenders have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to seven years without the option of a fine.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the convictions marked a shift from simply seizing counterfeit products to ensuring that those responsible face legal consequences. Some of the convictions involved the production or distribution of fake medicines and other regulated products, with sentences varying according to the offences established in court.

The agency said coordinated raids conducted at Idumota in Lagos, Onitsha and Ariaria International Market in Aba between February and March 2025 resulted in the seizure and destruction of more than 137 truckloads of counterfeit and substandard products. NAFDAC valued the products at over N1.5 trillion, describing the scale of the operation as part of its wider enforcement campaign.

NAFDAC has continued its enforcement activities in 2026, including operations targeting counterfeit medicines, cosmetics, food products and other regulated goods. The agency also reported that its Post-Market Surveillance Directorate visited 6,233 facilities and removed 7,210 brands and products from circulation between May and July 2026.

Adeyeye said the fight against counterfeit products requires continuous surveillance and cooperation from the public, as manufacturers and distributors of fake goods can operate within ordinary communities and commercial areas. NAFDAC said it would continue pursuing offenders through investigations, seizures and prosecutions while urging Nigerians to report suspected counterfeit or unsafe products to the agency.