In a sweeping enforcement exercise aimed at safeguarding public health and upholding regulatory standards, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated a staggering cache of banned, expired, and unregistered products estimated to be worth over ₦1.5 billion. The operation, which took place at the cosmetics section of the ever-busy Lagos Trade Fair market, underscores the agency’s renewed determination to rid Nigerian markets of substandard and potentially harmful goods.
According to NAFDAC officials who led the operation, the seized items included a wide range of illegally imported cosmetics, skin-lightening creams, and other personal care products that either failed to meet the agency’s regulatory requirements or had been outrightly prohibited from circulation in the country. Some of the products, they revealed, had expired labels cleverly altered or reprinted to mislead unsuspecting consumers, while others bore no traceable registration numbers or approval codes, thereby violating Nigeria’s health and safety laws.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reacting to the development, reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance stance against the sale of unwholesome and fake products in Nigeria. She stressed that such items pose grave health risks, ranging from severe skin reactions to long-term organ damage, particularly when used continuously without medical supervision. Prof. Adeyeye also disclosed that the enforcement team encountered resistance from traders during the operation, but assured the public that no level of intimidation would deter the agency from carrying out its statutory duties.
Further investigations, she noted, are ongoing to identify the source and supply chain of the illegal products. NAFDAC is expected to make arrests and pursue legal action against individuals and groups found culpable in the illicit trade. The agency has also vowed to intensify surveillance efforts in key commercial hubs across the country, particularly in markets notorious for housing banned or unregistered goods.
The Lagos Trade Fair market, one of West Africa’s largest commercial centres, has in recent years come under scrutiny for serving as a hub for the distribution of unregulated products. Health experts have consistently warned that unlicensed skin-care and cosmetic items often contain hazardous chemicals like mercury, hydroquinone, and steroids, all of which have been linked to cancer, hormonal imbalance, and irreversible skin damage.
NAFDAC has urged consumers to remain vigilant by checking for product registration numbers before purchase and to promptly report suspicious items to the agency through its official complaint channels. As regulatory authorities continue to strengthen their enforcement capacity, this latest seizure sends a strong message to importers and retailers who still operate outside the boundaries of Nigerian law: the era of impunity in the nation’s health and safety space is rapidly coming to an end.
