The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down an illegal herbal medicine production facility operating in Kaduna State. The unregistered facility, identified as Shifa’unnur, was located in Mararaba Jos, within the Igabi Local Government Area.
The operation, which took place on Friday, was led by a Principal Regulatory Officer of NAFDAC, Mr. Shamsuddeen Mani, who briefed journalists after the successful clampdown. He revealed that the agency acted on credible intelligence which exposed the activities of the facility, operating without proper registration and violating safety regulations.
According to Mani, the facility was producing various herbal products without NAFDAC’s approval, a serious breach of the agency’s regulatory framework. “We acted swiftly based on credible intelligence and cracked down on an illegal herbal medicine facility in Mararaba Jos,” he said.
The regulatory officer expressed deep concern over the poor and unhygienic conditions under which the herbal medicines were being produced. “It’s alarming that all the equipment used in the unhygienic and hidden setup were substandard. These products pose serious health risks as their safety, quality, and efficacy cannot be guaranteed,” he stated.
During the raid, unregistered herbal products estimated to be worth N5 million were confiscated. Mani confirmed that the seized items would be destroyed in line with NAFDAC’s procedures for handling illegal or unapproved products.
The facility remains sealed, and further investigation is ongoing. NAFDAC also indicated that the operators of the illegal plant could face prosecution depending on the outcome of the investigation.
The illegal production and sale of herbal medicines have become a growing concern in Nigeria, where many people turn to traditional remedies for various health issues. While herbal medicines are an important part of African traditional healthcare, NAFDAC has continuously warned the public against using unregistered and unverified products.
In recent years, the agency has intensified its efforts to sanitize the herbal medicine market. Unscrupulous producers have taken advantage of weak enforcement in some areas to operate from hidden locations, putting public health at risk.
NAFDAC insists that every product meant for consumption—whether food, drugs, or herbal supplements—must pass through proper regulatory screening to ensure it is safe, effective, and produced under hygienic conditions. Products that are not registered or approved by the agency are deemed illegal.
NAFDAC was established in 1993 to regulate and control the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water in Nigeria. The agency is empowered by law to ensure that only safe and standard products are made available to the Nigerian public.
Mr. Mani highlighted that the agency would not relent in its efforts to safeguard public health, and violators of the law would face the full weight of regulatory action.
“We will continue to pursue violators and clamp down on all forms of regulatory breaches and sharp practices. It is our duty to protect the lives of Nigerians by ensuring that only quality and safe products are available in the market,” he said.
NAFDAC also called on the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious production facilities or unregistered products. The agency urged Nigerians to always check for NAFDAC registration numbers before purchasing any food, drug, or herbal product.
