The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered expired and toxic chemicals worth over N1 billion in Lagos.
The agency uncovered these during a sting operation at Folarin Olawale Cole Close at Alapere-Ketu area of Lagos.
The agency described the seizure as one of the largest and most dangerous in recent years, saying they posed serious threats to public health and national security.
Speaking after the raid, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement and Chairman, Federal Task Force on Fake and Substandard Products, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, said the raid was a massive and unprecedented discovery.
According to Iluyomade, the three warehouses raided were stocked with prohibited, expired, and highly toxic chemicals, many of which were meant for food and pharmaceutical use.
“What we saw here is shocking. All expired. Some marked ‘Not for Sale.’ These are chemicals that should only be in government custody, not in the hands of private individuals,” he stated.
Iluyomade asserted that chemicals of this nature in the wrong hands could fuel insecurity.
“Chemicals in the wrong hands are dangerous. They can be used to make bombs or other dangerous items. This is not just a public health issue, it is a national security threat,” he averred.
He further explained that NAFDAC is expanding its enforcement efforts to include raw materials, not just finished products. “If you use the wrong raw materials, the finished product is already wrong. We are taking a holistic approach from production inputs to final products to protect Nigerians,” he said.
“This case is mind-boggling. One person owns all three warehouses and several outlets. He is not just selling expired chemicals, he is supplying others. It’s a supply chain of danger,” Iluyomade added.
He, however, pledged that the agency would pursue everyone connected to the illegal operation. “This is just the beginning. We will ensure this serves as a deterrent to others poisoning the public for profit.”
For his part, NAFDAC’s Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Dr. Leonardo Omopariola, revealed that the operation was initiated after the agency received anonymous intelligence.
“We launched an internal investigation based on a tip-off. Once we confirmed the location, we moved in swiftly this morning,” he said.
He described the conditions inside the warehouses and the environment as a disaster zone.
Omopariola expressed concern that some of the expired substances were food-grade chemicals. “These are chemicals used in producing what people eat. Once expired, their composition is altered, and what they’re manufacturing is no longer food. It’s poison,” he warned.
He added that some items found were marked as donations and not for sale. “There were boxes labelled ‘Donated – Not for Sale.’ How did they end up here? Someone is diverting products meant to help the public,” he said.
He put the economic value of the seizure items between N700million and N1 billion. “And they’re all expired. That tells you the magnitude of this operation,” he said.
He stressed that some of the substances, including caustic soda are controlled chemicals. “You need NAFDAC approval to store or distribute these. This individual has no such permit from us. The fact that everything is expired suggests they were illegally sourced.”
Two suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizures as Omopariola vowed that the agency would track down every individual involved.
NAFDAC also called on the public to assist the agency in curbing such criminal acts, “We have a whistleblower policy. If you suspect anyone is selling expired or hazardous products, report to us.
“You don’t have to give your name. Your identity will be protected, and there’s even a reward. This is about saving lives and safeguarding our environment,” Omopariola assured.
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