The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized more than 10,000 cartons of unregistered tomato paste and cosmetic products during a major raid at the Lagos Trade Fair market.
The five-day enforcement operation, which targeted the cosmetics section of the market, is part of NAFDAC’s ongoing effort to rid Nigerian markets of unsafe and unapproved products.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC, said the seized items included creams, soaps, body sprays, body washes, air fresheners, toothpaste, and large quantities of unregistered tomato paste.
“These products have not gone through proper safety checks. We cannot guarantee they are safe for use,” Iluyomade warned.
He stressed that many Nigerians are unknowingly using harmful products, adding, “I can say authoritatively that deaths caused by fake medicines, unsafe foods, and cosmetics are more than those caused by Boko Haram.”
NAFDAC recently launched a joint task force with other agencies to strengthen its surveillance and clamp down on substandard products nationwide. The agency is also working closely with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to stop harmful imports from entering the country.
“The NCS has handed over several fake items to us, and we’ve also shared some findings with them. Our goal is to stop these dangerous goods before they reach consumers,” Iluyomade said.
NAFDAC urged manufacturers, importers, and distributors to register their products properly, noting that the agency has simplified its processes to make it easier for businesses to comply.
Iluyomade warned that NAFDAC will continue to take firm action against anyone found selling fake or unregistered goods that put Nigerian lives at risk.
