The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized expired, unregistered, and substandard food and cosmetic products valued at over N350 million during a targeted three-day enforcement operation in Kano State. The agency disclosed the development in a statement posted on its official X handle, following multiple petitions from concerned individuals.
The crackdown, which spanned Singer Market and several supermarkets across the Kano metropolis, was spearheaded by the agency’s Directors of Investigation and Enforcement and its North-West Zonal Office. The raid uncovered expired candies, beverages, and a wide array of unregistered products, including imported items lacking English-language labeling, in violation of Nigerian regulations. NAFDAC also confirmed that unregistered food and cosmetic products were confiscated from popular supermarket chains operating in the city.
The agency emphasized that investigations are ongoing to identify and prosecute individuals or companies responsible for distributing the unsafe products. It urged the public to report suspicious goods to the nearest NAFDAC office, reiterating its commitment to protecting public health by ensuring only safe, certified products are available in the market.
This operation in Kano is part of a broader nationwide effort by the agency to purge Nigeria’s markets of harmful and substandard items. NAFDAC’s Director-General has repeatedly underscored the health threats posed by counterfeit and expired products, including treatment failure, drug resistance, and fatalities.
In recent months, the agency has intensified its enforcement activities. In January 2025, it destroyed counterfeit goods worth N1.37 billion in Abuja. These included expired beverages, rebagged rice, and unregistered cosmetics—some of which were voluntarily surrendered. A similar action in February in Rivers State led to the destruction of fake products valued at N4.7 billion, including expired alcoholic drinks and cosmetics that lacked vitamin A fortification.
To further bolster its regulatory capacity, NAFDAC is urging the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of the Counterfeit Medical Products Bill. The proposed legislation is expected to provide a stronger legal framework for cracking down on the manufacture and distribution of unregulated consumer and medical products in Nigeria.
