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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) received 225 complaints about suspected counterfeit products in August, Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye has said.
Adeyeye disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the agency’s efforts to address suspected counterfeit, adulterated, and unsafe products circulating across Nigeria.
She said NAFDAC receives more than 200 complaints from Nigerians every month through its various reporting channels, describing the complaints as important leads for regulatory investigations.
According to her, 225 calls were received through the agency’s complaint channel in August alone.
Adeyeye urged Nigerians to report suspected counterfeit products and their sellers through NAFDAC’s official complaint channels instead of relying primarily on social media to raise concerns.
She said counterfeiters operate within communities, neighbourhoods and business premises and urged the public to provide information that could enable the agency to investigate suspected violations.
“We received over 200 complaints from Nigerians monthly; in August we received 225 calls through NAFDAC complaint channel.
“Counterfeiters are not ghosts; they exist within our communities, neighbourhoods, and business premises,” she said.
The director-general explained that NAFDAC’s 24-hour call centre and other complaint channels allow the agency to evaluate reports and determine whether they require further investigation.
She said the agency was aware of recent concerns surrounding suspected adulterated, counterfeit and unsafe food products, following media reports and social media discussions about yoghurt, palm oil, apples, soy sauce, olive oil, chicken, fish, water and beverages.
However, Adeyeye cautioned that allegations circulated on social media were not sufficient to establish whether a product was counterfeit or unsafe.
She stressed that scientific testing and regulatory investigation were necessary to substantiate such claims, adding that reports would have been stronger if supported by proper scientific evaluation rather than emotionally driven or potentially commercially motivated social media narratives.
“The strength of the publication could have been enhanced by a proper scientific evaluation rather than relying primarily on emotionally driven and perhaps commercially motivated social media narratives,” she said.
Adeyeye said NAFDAC’s regulatory responsibilities in the food sector cover processed and packaged products and include inspecting establishments, collecting samples, conducting laboratory analysis, monitoring compliance, carrying out post-market surveillance and investigating complaints.
The agency, she added, is also responsible for product verification, recalls and enforcement actions.
She further stated that the production, distribution, importation, exportation, advertisement, sale or use of unregistered regulated products is prohibited under the NAFDAC Act and other relevant laws.
Where violations are established, Adeyeye said the agency could seize, recall or dispose of affected products and take enforcement action against those responsible.
The NAFDAC boss also clarified that some products mentioned in recent reports, particularly imported agricultural produce, are not solely within the agency’s regulatory jurisdiction.
She identified the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service as the agency responsible for imported agricultural produce such as apples, grapes and oranges, stressing the need for relevant agencies to work more closely together.
Adeyeye said the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality and its 2023 implementation plan provide a framework for coordination among the agencies involved in food safety.
She also raised concerns over the adulteration of palm oil with azo dyes and other hazardous contaminants, particularly palm oil packaged and sold traditionally in open markets.
According to her, NAFDAC has observed the use of azo dyes and other harmful substances in traditionally packaged palm oil.
She also said fufu and other staple foods had been reported to be produced using bleach and other chemicals that could harm human health.
“The adulteration of palm oil with azo dyes and other hazardous contaminants has been observed, particularly in palm oil packaged and presented in traditional forms,” she said.
“Fufu and other staple foods are also reported to be produced by adding bleach and other chemicals injurious to human health.”
Adeyeye explained that NAFDAC does not have direct and absolute regulatory oversight over unbranded palm oil, fufu and other traditionally packaged staple foods sold in open markets.
She therefore called on sub-national authorities to strengthen monitoring and regulation of such products within their jurisdictions.
The director-general also said NAFDAC had been tackling the unethical ripening of fruits since 2018 through measures including restrictions on the availability of calcium carbide, public awareness campaigns and engagement with relevant stakeholders.
