The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed unsafe, counterfeit and non-compliant regulated products worth N22.73 billion between January and August 2026, as part of its intensified efforts to protect Nigerians
The agency’s enforcement operations during the eight-month period also resulted in 52 arrests, 213 raids, 821 product seizure entries and the closure or sealing of 179 premises suspected of violating regulatory requirements.
According to figures released by NAFDAC’s Directorate of Investigation and Enforcement, the agency recorded a total of 5,542 enforcement activities, initiated 474 cases and successfully concluded 295 cases.
It also conducted 22 exercises to destroy products considered unsuitable for public consumption or use.
The statistics highlight the scale of the regulatory challenges confronting the agency as it continues to tackle the circulation of falsified medicines, unsafe cosmetics, adulterated food products, substandard beverages and other goods that fail to meet established safety and quality standards.
The enforcement campaign covers several categories of regulated products, including medicines, food, cosmetics, medical devices, packaged water, beverages and chemicals.
The operations are being carried out under the leadership of NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, with enforcement activities coordinated by the Directorate of Investigation and Enforcement, headed by Dr Martins Iluyomade.
Iluyomade also chairs the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Nigeria.
Enforcement activities increased as the year progressed
A breakdown of the agency’s monthly activities shows that enforcement operations gathered momentum as the year progressed, with substantial increases recorded in raids, seizures, sanctions and product destruction exercises.
In January, NAFDAC recorded 232 enforcement activities, carried out 20 raids and closed or sealed seven premises. Eight arrests were made during the month, while 19 sanctions were imposed.
Beverages accounted for 83 enforcement activities, making them the most frequently recorded category, followed by drugs with 60 activities. The agency also concluded 10 cases out of 35 newly reported cases.
The figures increased in February, when enforcement activities rose to 423. The agency conducted 36 raids, recorded 47 premises closures or sealing operations and made 11 arrests.
During the same month, 17 sanctions were imposed, while 19 cases were concluded out of 55 newly reported cases. NAFDAC also carried out a destruction exercise involving products valued at N1.29 billion.
In March, the agency recorded 387 enforcement activities and conducted 20 raids. Nine premises were closed or sealed, while 18 sanctions were imposed. A total of 43 cases were concluded during the month.
Two destruction exercises involving products worth N2.56 billion were also conducted in March, bringing the cumulative value of destroyed goods to N3.85 billion by the end of the first quarter.
April witnessed a further increase in enforcement operations, with 673 activities recorded alongside 46 raids and 94 product seizure entries.
The agency closed or sealed 32 premises, made seven arrests and imposed 26 sanctions during the month.
Cosmetics accounted for 272 enforcement activities, while food products recorded 183, making them the leading categories in the month’s operational figures.
May and June accounted for major destruction exercises
NAFDAC’s enforcement activities intensified further in May, when the agency recorded 1,076 operations, making it one of the busiest months within the period under review.
Although six raids were recorded, the agency documented 90 product seizure entries, closed or sealed 18 premises and imposed 35 sanctions.
Five destruction exercises were conducted during the month, resulting in the disposal of products valued at N3.30 billion. This raised the cumulative value of destroyed goods to N7.15 billion.
Chemicals accounted for 396 enforcement activities in May, while cosmetics recorded 219, indicating that the agency’s interventions extended beyond medicines and food products to other regulated commodities.
In June, NAFDAC recorded 721 enforcement activities, conducted 35 raids and documented 165 product seizure entries.
Nine premises were closed, seven arrests were made and 20 sanctions were imposed. The agency also carried out eight destruction exercises involving products valued at N6.40 billion.
Following the June operations, the cumulative value of destroyed products rose to N13.55 billion.
The figures indicate that the destruction of unsafe and non-compliant goods represented a significant component of the agency’s enforcement efforts during the first half of the year.
July records highest monthly enforcement activity
July recorded the highest monthly enforcement activity within the period covered by the available figures, with 1,089 operations documented by the agency.
During the month, NAFDAC conducted 22 raids, recorded 240 product seizure entries and shut or sealed 37 premises. Twelve arrests were also made, while 49 sanctions were imposed.
The agency concluded 69 cases, compared with 61 newly reported cases during the same month.
Two destruction exercises were recorded in July, involving products valued at approximately N157.7 million.
The figures released for the period put the cumulative value of destroyed products at N22.73 billion.
However, the available monthly breakdown provides figures only from January through July, while the headline eight-month reporting period extends through August. The monthly figures for August were not separately detailed in the information provided.
Cosmetics, drinks and drugs feature prominently in seizures
A closer examination of NAFDAC’s product seizure records shows that cosmetics accounted for the highest number of entries, with 401 recorded during the period.
Drinks followed with 215 entries, while drugs accounted for 112. Food products recorded 69 entries, and chemicals accounted for 22.
The distribution demonstrates the variety of products involved in regulatory violations and the need for sustained monitoring across different sectors of the Nigerian market.
According to Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s enforcement responsibilities extend beyond the identification and removal of counterfeit medicines.
The agency also targets unsafe cosmetic products, improperly manufactured beverages, adulterated food, hazardous chemicals and other regulated items that fail to satisfy prescribed safety and quality requirements.
These interventions are intended to reduce the risks posed by products that could endanger consumers when manufactured, stored, distributed or sold without compliance with applicable regulations.
NAFDAC says enforcement goes beyond raids and seizures
The agency’s regulatory approach involves several stages, including intelligence gathering, market surveillance, investigations, evidence collection and the questioning of suspects.
Where necessary, samples are obtained for laboratory testing to establish whether products meet the required standards. Depending on the findings, the process may lead to administrative sanctions or the referral of cases for prosecution.
Iluyomade explained that removing a suspected unsafe product from circulation represents only one aspect of effective enforcement.
Regulators must also determine how such products entered the market, identify individuals and businesses involved in their manufacture or distribution, and establish whether the violations are connected to broader supply networks.
The findings from these investigations help authorities determine the appropriate response, including administrative penalties and possible legal action against individuals or organisations found to have breached relevant laws.
This approach is intended to address the underlying activities that allow unsafe products to reach consumers, rather than focusing exclusively on confiscating goods after they have entered the marketplace.
295 cases concluded amid concerns over unsafe products
The conclusion of 295 cases within the eight-month period has drawn attention to the importance of following enforcement operations through to resolution.
Stakeholders in the public health and regulated-products sectors have observed that the figure suggests NAFDAC’s activities extend beyond raids, inspections and seizures to the handling and resolution of reported violations.
However, they have also expressed concern about the continued presence of substandard, falsified, unregistered and otherwise non-compliant products in parts of the Nigerian market.
With more than 5,500 enforcement activities recorded during the period, the figures point to the continuing demand for stronger regulatory oversight and improved compliance among businesses dealing in regulated products.
The scale of the operations also highlights the challenges associated with monitoring a market that accommodates numerous manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers.
Stakeholders have therefore emphasised the need to combine enforcement with preventive measures capable of identifying potential violations before unsafe products reach consumers.
Manufacturers, distributors and consumers urged to remain vigilant
NAFDAC’s Directorate of Investigation and Enforcement has reiterated that manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers must comply with applicable requirements governing product registration, labelling, storage and distribution.
Businesses are also expected to obtain regulated products through legitimate supply channels and ensure that the goods they manufacture or sell meet established standards.
Consumers, meanwhile, have been encouraged to purchase medicines, food, cosmetics and other regulated products from reputable outlets.
They are also advised to examine product labels, verify registration details where applicable and report suspicious products to the relevant authorities.
Such cooperation, stakeholders argue, could help regulators identify potentially dangerous goods more quickly and improve efforts to prevent their circulation.
Industry observers have further stressed that the ultimate objective should not simply be to destroy large quantities of unsafe products, but to prevent such goods from entering the market in the first place.
They have called for sustained investment in intelligence gathering, market surveillance, laboratory facilities, prosecution and cooperation among relevant government agencies.
Greater public awareness has also been identified as an important part of the response, particularly in helping consumers recognise suspicious products and understand the risks associated with unregistered or improperly manufactured goods.
The N22.73 billion worth of products reportedly destroyed during the period demonstrates the scale of NAFDAC’s interventions.
Nevertheless, the long-term success of the campaign will depend on the agency’s ability to strengthen compliance, disrupt the supply of unsafe products and ensure that goods reaching Nigerian consumers meet the required safety and quality standards.
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