BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disclosed that cosmetics, food, and beverages constitute more than 50 per cent of counterfeit products seized across Nigeria.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, revealed this on Wednesday during a press conference marking the 2026 International Anti-Counterfeit Month, observed globally every June.
Represented by the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, Adeyeye said the figure was based on the volume of fake and substandard cosmetics, food items, and beverages confiscated by the agency during enforcement operations nationwide.
According to her, counterfeit cosmetics top the list of fake products circulating in the country, followed closely by food and beverage products. She added that counterfeit and substandard medicines containing incorrect ingredients, inadequate active pharmaceutical substances, or no active ingredients at all have also been intercepted in significant quantities.
“Cosmetics account for the most counterfeited products in Nigeria, followed by food and beverages, which together make up more than 50 per cent of our seizures. Pharmaceuticals also constitute a significant proportion of NAFDAC’s enforcement activities,” she said.
The agency expressed concern over the increasingly sophisticated methods being employed by counterfeiters to flood Nigerian markets with fake products, particularly medicines, warning that the trend poses grave risks to public health and national security.
Adeyeye explained that technological advancements have enabled individuals to procure counterfeit products directly from foreign manufacturers through online platforms without leaving Nigeria.
She further noted that smugglers now exploit cargo consolidation arrangements, commonly known as “groupage,” whereby multiple importers share a single shipping container, making it difficult for regulators to identify suspicious consignments.
“Previously, importers travelled abroad to inspect factories and arrange shipments themselves. Today, someone can sit in a shop in Nigeria, place an order online, and have counterfeit products delivered through logistics companies,” she said.
According to her, foreign suppliers monitor products with high market demand and arrange for counterfeit versions—often manufactured in parts of Asia—to be shipped into Nigeria. These fake products are frequently packaged to closely resemble genuine brands, making it difficult for consumers and retailers to distinguish them from authentic goods.
She acknowledged the challenge of monitoring every package entering the country through such channels, describing the development as a major security concern affecting not only medicines but other regulated products as well.
To combat the menace, NAFDAC said it has intensified collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security and regulatory agencies. The agency is also working to strengthen verification systems and close loopholes that enable the importation of counterfeit products.
“This fight cannot be won by NAFDAC alone. Government institutions, manufacturers, importers, logistics companies, healthcare professionals, the media, and consumers all have critical roles to play in safeguarding public health,” she said.
The Director-General also commended the judiciary for accelerating the prosecution of drug-related offences and securing convictions against individuals involved in the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit and illicit medicines.
She disclosed that several convictions had been secured since last year, including a recent case in which a suspect was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment after a trial that commenced in November and concluded in February.
NAFDAC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant by purchasing medicines and other regulated products only from authorised outlets, utilising available authentication technologies, and promptly reporting suspected counterfeit products to the appropriate authorities.
The agency reiterated its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring that only safe, genuine, and quality-regulated products are available in the Nigerian market.
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