The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians to avoid Goya oil sold in PET plastic bottles, describing such products as fake and unsafe for consumption.
The warning came during a media briefing on Friday at NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate office in Lagos. Dr Martins Iluyomade, Director of Investigation and Enforcement, said the only approved Goya oil is the imported version sold in original bottles by authorised dealers.
“We discovered a factory producing fake Goya oil at Oke-Arin market in Idumota, Lagos. The counterfeit product was made by mixing burnt palm oil with colouring before being repackaged and sold to unsuspecting consumers,” Iluyomade said. Palm oil, colouring, stoves, and empty bottles were recovered at the site.
The NAFDAC official warned that many Nigerians may be unknowingly consuming the harmful product and cautioned religious organisations against selling PET-bottled Goya oil during gatherings, noting that offenders would face prosecution. Citizens are encouraged to report suspected counterfeiting activities to the nearest NAFDAC office.
In a related enforcement action, a suspect identified as Moses Nelson was arrested in Badagry, Lagos, for distributing adulterated and counterfeit alcoholic drinks. Empty bottles, sachets, and PET-bottled alcohol were seized from his residence.
Counterfeiting remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria. Previous studies, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, have shown high rates of substandard and falsified medicines. Last year, NAFDAC launched a Federal and Regional Task Force to tackle fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods.
Within six months, the agency destroyed over N120 billion worth of fake, expired, and unregistered products nationwide, withdrew or suspended 101 pharmaceutical items, and seized expired, unregistered, and substandard food and cosmetic products worth over N350 million in Kano State.
NAFDAC also recently warned the public about falsified products such as Ginny Non-Dairy Creamer circulating in the market without proper labelling or regulatory compliance.
