From Lagos To Abia: 8 States Where NAFDAC Has Seized Fake Products

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified enforcement activities against counterfeit products, substandard medicines, prohibited alcoholic beverages and other potentially harmful goods across Nigeria.

Recent operations have uncovered counterfeit alcoholic beverage packaging materials worth more than ₦200 million in Aba, Abia State, and an alleged large-scale counterfeit alcohol operation at the International Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, where products valued at over ₦2 billion were seized.

The agency has also carried out enforcement operations involving prohibited alcoholic drinks, destroyed expired donated medicines and issued alerts concerning suspected falsified medicines.

Here are eight states where NAFDAC has reported seizures, enforcement actions or counterfeit-product alerts.

Lagos State:

In Lagos, NAFDAC’s recent enforcement activities involved counterfeit and prohibited products. On October 15, 2026, operatives of the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate raided the International Trade Fair Complex, uncovering more than 20 illegal stores allegedly involved in counterfeit alcoholic beverage operations.

According to NAFDAC, suspects were caught blending and counterfeiting popular alcoholic beverage brands, revalidating expired and unsafe drinks for resale, and stockpiling banned imported products. Two suspects were arrested, while the seized products were valued at more than ₦2 billion.

The operation followed another enforcement action on October 4, when the agency seized alcoholic beverages worth an estimated ₦300 million from distributors and retailers at Ile-Epo Market, Ojuwoye Market in Mushin, and Oke-Arin Market on Lagos Island.

The products included alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200 millilitres, which NAFDAC said remained prohibited.

Earlier, on August 26 and 27, the agency conducted a two-day operation at the Trade Fair Complex to remove specified unregistered cosmetic products from circulation.

Abia State: 

NAFDAC uncovered counterfeit packaging materials valued at more than ₦200 million during a raid on five shops at Old Court Road Market in Aba, Abia State, on October 14, 2026.

Acting on credible intelligence, the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement operatives discovered counterfeit labels, corks, packs and outer packaging materials bearing the names of popular alcoholic beverage and other consumer-product brands.

The affected brands included Jameson, Glenfiddich, Four Cousins, Lord’s Dry Gin, Imperial Blue, Goya Oil, Chelsea, Squadron and Seaman’s Aromatic Schnapps.

NAFDAC said the operation was met with threats and resistance from some traders, making the evacuation of the seized materials difficult.

The owners of the five shops were reportedly absent during the operation. The premises were placed on hold to prevent interference with materials remaining inside, while the market union chairman pledged to help identify the shop owners and secure the sealed premises.

FCT:

In May, NAFDAC destroyed counterfeit, substandard, falsified, expired and unwholesome regulated products valued at over ₦1.8 billion at the Kuje dumpsite in Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the agency, the destruction exercise involved the incineration of counterfeit medicines, banned sachet alcohol, expired pharmaceuticals, fake chemicals and other unsafe products seized across Abuja and surrounding areas, including items voluntarily submitted by companies, NGOs, and the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN).

Rivers State: 

NAFDAC destroyed expired donated medicines valued at ₦59 million at the Igwuruta dump site in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on September 27, 2026.

The medicines had been shipped from the United States through the Nigeria Ports Authority’s Area 1 Port in Port Harcourt.

The consignment included antidepressants, anti-ulcer medicines, analgesics and medicines used in managing hypertension.

The destruction exercise was conducted in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies to prevent the expired medicines from being diverted, misused or distributed without authorisation.

Kano State: 

NAFDAC reported the seizure of a suspected substandard and falsified antimalarial medicine in Kano State on September 17, 2026.

The product was Artemether/Lumefantrine 80mg/480mg, purportedly manufactured by Bandaram Pharma Packleh Ltd (BPPL), India.

It was intercepted during routine post-market surveillance at the Coordinated Wholesale Centre in Kano.

According to the agency, verification established that the NAFDAC registration number displayed on the product, 02-3457, was fake and did not exist in its registration database.

The label also failed to indicate the marketing authorisation holder’s information.

NAFDAC classified the product as falsified, warning that its use could result in treatment failure, worsening malaria, drug resistance and other serious public health consequences.

Oyo State:

In Oyo State, NAFDAC destroyed fake, expired and banned medicines valued at more than ₦15 billion in Ibadan in February 2026. The destruction was aimed at preventing unsafe pharmaceutical products from returning to circulation and endangering public health.

Niger State

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in February sealed 18 warehouses in Niger State after uncovering large quantities of expired food and beverage products valued at over N100 million

According to NAFDAC, the affected warehouses were located in Bida, around Ndazabo White House along Minna Road and behind Bida Modern Market.

Officials said the facilities contained expired non-alcoholic beverages, dairy products, candies, bottled water and pasta, some of which had already been packaged for distribution.

Kaduna and Gombe States: 

Kaduna and Gombe States were among the locations identified in a NAFDAC alert issued in March 2026 regarding confirmed counterfeit MabThera.

MabThera is a prescription medicine containing rituximab, used for certain serious medical conditions. The alert highlighted the risk posed by falsified medicines to patients and healthcare providers. According to the agency, counterfeit prescription medicines can expose patients to ineffective treatment and potentially serious health consequences.