By Desire Uzochukwu
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed unsafe, falsified and non-compliant products worth ₦22.73 billion in eight months, as it intensifies its nationwide crackdown on goods posing risks to public health.
The agency’s Directorate of Investigation and Enforcement recorded 5,542 enforcement activities, 213 raids, 821 product seizure entries, 179 premises closed or sealed and 52 arrests between January and August 2026.
During the period, the directorate also handled 474 new cases, concluded 295 cases and conducted 22 destruction exercises, according to data released by NAFDAC.
The enforcement drive, under the leadership of the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, covered food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, packaged water, drinks and chemicals.
The figures highlight the scale of the regulatory challenge facing the agency as it seeks to remove dangerous and substandard products from circulation and strengthen compliance across regulated sectors.
The Directorate of Investigation and Enforcement, headed by Martins Iluyomade, also Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Nigeria, sustained operations across the country throughout the eight-month period.
Enforcement activities surge
A breakdown of the figures shows that enforcement activities increased considerably as the year progressed, with July recording the highest monthly total.
In January, NAFDAC recorded 232 enforcement activities, including 20 raids, seven premises closed or sealed and eight arrests. Drinks accounted for 83 activities, while drugs accounted for 60.
The agency imposed 19 sanctions and concluded 10 cases out of 35 newly reported cases during the month.
In February, enforcement activities rose to 423, with 36 raids, 47 premises closed or sealed and 11 arrests. Seventeen sanctions were imposed, while 19 cases were concluded out of 55 newly reported cases.
The agency also conducted a destruction exercise involving products valued at ₦1.29 billion.
In March, NAFDAC recorded 387 enforcement activities, conducted 20 raids and imposed 18 sanctions. Nine premises were closed or sealed, while 43 cases were concluded.
Two destruction exercises involving products worth ₦2.56 billion brought the cumulative value of destroyed goods to ₦3.85 billion by the end of the month.
Enforcement expanded further in April, with 673 activities, 46 raids and 94 product seizure entries. Thirty-two premises were closed or sealed, seven arrests were made and 26 sanctions imposed.
Cosmetics accounted for the highest number of activities in April, with 272, followed by food products with 183.
July records highest monthly destruction value
May was one of the busiest months, with 1,076 enforcement activities recorded. The agency made 90 seizure entries, closed or sealed 18 premises and imposed 35 sanctions, despite conducting six raids.
Five destruction exercises involving products worth ₦3.30 billion brought the cumulative value of destroyed goods to ₦7.15 billion.
Chemicals accounted for 396 activities in May, while cosmetics accounted for 219.
In June, NAFDAC recorded 721 enforcement activities, 35 raids and 165 product seizure entries. Nine premises were closed, seven arrests were made and 20 sanctions imposed.
Eight destruction exercises involving products valued at ₦6.40 billion pushed the cumulative value of destroyed goods to ₦13.55 billion.
July recorded the highest monthly enforcement activity during the period, with 1,089 activities, 22 raids and 240 seizure entries.
The agency closed or sealed 37 premises, made 12 arrests and imposed 49 sanctions. It also concluded 59 cases out of 97 newly reported cases.
Four destruction exercises involving products worth ₦9.03 billion were carried out during the month, the highest monthly value recorded in the eight-month period. The exercises brought the cumulative value of destroyed products to ₦22.58 billion.
NAFDAC sustained its enforcement drive in August, recording 941 activities, 28 raids and 232 seizure entries.
Twenty premises were closed or sealed, three arrests were made and 37 sanctions imposed. The agency concluded 69 cases against 61 newly reported cases.
Two destruction exercises involving products valued at ₦157.7 million brought the cumulative value of destroyed goods to ₦22.73 billion.
Cosmetics, drinks, drugs dominate seizure entries
The data also showed that cosmetics, drinks and drugs featured prominently in the product categories recorded in seizure activity.
Cosmetics accounted for 401 seizure entries, followed by drinks with 215, drugs with 112, food products with 69 and chemicals with 22.
The figures indicate that the agency’s enforcement responsibilities extend beyond counterfeit medicines to include unsafe cosmetics, improperly produced beverages, adulterated food products, hazardous chemicals and other non-compliant regulated goods.
NAFDAC’s operations also go beyond raids and seizures. They include surveillance, evidence gathering, interrogation, laboratory analysis where necessary, administrative sanctions and the referral of cases for legal action.
These measures are important in determining how unsafe products enter the market, identifying those responsible for their manufacture or distribution and establishing whether wider networks are involved.
The conclusion of 295 cases during the period represents another aspect of the enforcement process, as investigations move towards resolution and appropriate sanctions.
The scale of the activities, however, points to the persistent challenge of substandard, falsified, unregistered and otherwise unsafe products in parts of the Nigerian market.
Manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers are expected to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, including product registration where required, proper labelling, appropriate storage conditions and sourcing through legitimate channels.
Consumers also have a role to play by purchasing regulated products from reputable outlets, checking registration details where possible and reporting suspicious products to the relevant authorities.
Under Adeyeye’s leadership, NAFDAC has continued to emphasise public health protection through enforcement and regulatory oversight.
The latest figures indicate sustained pressure on operators who fail to comply with safety and quality standards. However, the volume of seizures and
