The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the destruction of over 80 containers of fake and substandard medicines and food items as part of its ongoing nationwide enforcement campaign.
The Director of Investigation and Enforcement and Chairman of the Federal Task Force, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, disclosed this on Saturday during a press briefing in Lagos, where he also condemned a recent attack on NAFDAC officials at the Trade Fair market.
Iluyomade said the destruction exercise underscores the agency’s determination to rid Nigerian markets of counterfeit and unwholesome products that threaten public health.
“Currently, we are destroying over 80 containers of fake and substandard products. The moral decadence in Nigeria is alarming, and many people benefit from this illicit trade. We will continue to mop up these markets and reduce the level of substandard products to the barest minimum”, he said.
He described the October 30, 2025, attack on NAFDAC enforcement officers as a serious threat to regulatory operations, revealing that about 10 operational vehicles worth over ₦25 billion were vandalised during the incident.
Iluyomade lamented the persistence of counterfeit goods in major commercial centres, especially Lagos, where NAFDAC has battled fake products for years.
He, however, commended the Nigeria Customs Service, led by Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi, for its collaboration and for handing over several seized containers of fake medicines for destruction.
According to him, multiple cartons of banned, counterfeit, and unwholesome products were confiscated during the latest enforcement operation in line with the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap. C.34 LFN 2004.
Iluyomade also appreciated the Nigeria Police and the military for their professionalism during the raids and reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to protecting public health and ensuring that only safe, quality products reach consumers.