The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismantled a large-scale illegal operation in Lagos, uncovering warehouses stocked with fake chemicals, expired food flavorings, unauthorized fertilizers, and repackaged pharmaceutical raw materials.
The raid, conducted in the Alapere area of Ketu, led to multiple arrests and the sealing of three storage facilities containing hazardous substances.
NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, revealed that the operation was launched following intelligence reports about a criminal network involved in food and chemical counterfeiting. He emphasized that the agency’s crackdown was part of its ongoing efforts to safeguard public health, warning against businesses masquerading as legitimate while endangering consumers.
Among the seized items were expired chemicals, some of which had been illegally diverted for use in food and drug production. The raid also uncovered controlled substances and high-risk materials, including fertilizers that require special clearance from the Office of the National Security Adviser but were being stored without authorization.
Iluyomade stressed the dangers posed by such illicit activities, noting that the repackaging and sale of expired or unapproved substances could have severe health consequences for unsuspecting consumers. NAFDAC has vowed to intensify surveillance and enforcement operations to curb the distribution of counterfeit and substandard products across the country.
The agency urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring the safety of food, drugs, and other regulated products in Nigeria.