Health
NAFDAC intensifies crackdown, destroys N22.73bn unsafe products in eight months
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has disclosed that it destroyed goods valued at N22.73 billion between January and August 2026 as part of its nationwide crackdown on unsafe, falsified, and non-compliant regulated products.
NAFDAC said the crackdown aligned with its mandate to protect public health by removing dangerous and substandard products from circulation and tightening compliance across regulated sectors.
This was contained in a statement made available to PUNCH Healthwise by the agency on Wednesday
The operations, carried out by the agency’s Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Nigeria, spanned food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, packaged water, drinks and chemicals.
Data from the agency’s Directorate of Investigation and Enforcement show that NAFDAC recorded 5,542 enforcement activities, 213 raids, 821 product seizure entries, 179 premises closed or sealed and 52 arrests during the eight months.
The Directorate also handled 474 new cases, concluded 295 cases and carried out 22 destruction exercises.
In January, NAFDAC recorded 232 enforcement activities, including 20 raids, seven premises closed or sealed, and eight arrests. Drinks accounted for the highest number of activities that month, with 83 cases, followed by drugs with 60.
The agency also imposed 19 sanctions and concluded 10 of the 35 newly reported cases. By February, total enforcement activities had risen sharply to 423.
The agency carried out 36 raids, closed or sealed 47 premises, and recorded 11 arrests. It imposed 17 sanctions and concluded 19 of the 55 newly reported cases.
One destruction exercise involving products valued at N1.29 billion was also carried out. The agency maintained the pressure in March, recording 387 activities and 20 raids. Nine premises were closed or sealed, and 18 sanctions were imposed.
NAFDAC also concluded 43 cases during the month. Two destruction exercises involving products valued at N2.56 billion pushed the cumulative value of destroyed goods to N3.85 billion by the end of March.
The scale of enforcement expanded significantly in April, when the Directorate recorded 673 activities. It conducted 46 raids and recorded 94 product seizure entries.
Thirty-two premises were shut or sealed, seven arrests were made, and 26 sanctions were imposed. Cosmetics dominated the month with 272 recorded activities, followed by food products with 183.
May emerged as one of the busiest months, with 1,076 enforcement activities recorded. Although only six raids were carried out, the agency recorded 90 seizure entries, closed or sealed 18 premises, and imposed 35 sanctions.
Five destruction exercises led to the disposal of products valued at N3.30 billion, bringing the cumulative value of destroyed goods to N7.15 billion. Chemicals accounted for 396 activities in May, while cosmetics accounted for 219.
The crackdown continued in June, when NAFDAC recorded 721 activities, conducted 35 raids and recorded 165 product seizure entries. Nine premises were closed, seven arrests were made, and 20 sanctions were imposed.
Eight destruction exercises involving products valued at ₦6.40 billion took the cumulative value of destroyed goods to N13.55 billion.
In July, NAFDAC recorded the highest monthly level of enforcement activity within the period, with 1,089 activities.
The agency conducted 22 raids, recorded 240 seizure entries, and closed or sealed 37 premises. Twelve arrests were made and 49 sanctions imposed.
NAFDAC also concluded 59 cases out of 97 newly reported cases. Four destruction exercises carried out in July involved products valued at N9.03 billion, the highest monthly value recorded during the eight months.
This, according to the agency, pushed the cumulative value of destroyed products to N22.58 billion.
In August, the agency recorded 941 enforcement activities, 28 raids and 232 seizure entries. Twenty premises were closed or sealed, three arrests were made, and 37 sanctions were imposed.
Sixty-nine cases were concluded against 61 newly reported cases. Two destruction exercises involving products valued at N157.7 million brought the cumulative value of destroyed goods to N22.73 billion.
The combined data also show that cosmetics, drinks, and drugs featured prominently among the product categories recorded in seizure activity. Cosmetics accounted for 401 seizure entries, followed by drinks with 215, drugs with 112, food with 69 and chemicals with 22.
“The figures underline the fact that NAFDAC’s enforcement challenge extends beyond counterfeit medicines. Unsafe cosmetics, improperly produced beverages, adulterated food products, hazardous chemicals and other non-compliant regulated goods continue to demand regulatory attention,” the agency said in the statement.
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