In a major crackdown on counterfeit consumables, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered an illegal food and chemical counterfeiting ring worth over ₦1 billion operating in the Alapere area of Ketu, Lagos State. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
The discovery, announced in a statement on Tuesday, July 9, 2025, follows a highly coordinated intelligence-driven raid that led to the arrest of three suspects and the sealing of three warehouses stocked with expired chemicals, fake food flavours, unauthorised fertilisers, and repackaged pharmaceutical raw materials.
🧪 “A Grave Threat to Public Health” — NAFDAC
Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, who led the raid, revealed that the seized substances were being repurposed for food and drug production, posing serious health hazards to unsuspecting consumers.
“Using expired chemicals means that the final product cannot be safe or effective. That is a serious health risk,” Iluyomade stated.
He emphasized that the raid was part of NAFDAC’s intensified efforts to eliminate counterfeit and substandard products from the Nigerian market.
🧴 Dangerous Substances Found in Warehouses
Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, gave further insight into the shocking range of items recovered from the illegal facility. These included:
Expired food flavourings
Roasted beef and roasted chicken powders
Chinook seasoning
Tiger nut flavorings
Expired pharmaceutical raw materials like Metronidazole Benzoate
Unregistered and unauthorised fertilizers
⚠️ Nigerians Warned Against Consumption of Unverified Products
NAFDAC warned the public about the dangers of consuming unregulated products, reiterating its commitment to protecting the health of Nigerians.
“Chemicals are either precursors or active components in consumables. The wrong application of expired or unapproved materials results in unsafe products, putting countless lives at risk,” Omokpariola noted.
🔎 Investigation Ongoing
The suspects are currently in custody, and further investigations are underway to uncover the full scope of the criminal network and its distribution channels across Nigeria.
NAFDAC has vowed to prosecute all parties involved and continue surveillance operations across other parts of the country to clamp down on similar illegal activities.
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