By Desire Uzochukwu
The NAFDAC) has uncovered an illegal herbal products factory in Agege, Lagos, where three unregistered products were allegedly manufactured under unhygienic conditions, including one bearing a registration number assigned to a legitimate cough syrup.he agency sealed the facility, evacuated the products and arrested the manager, identified as Abulaziz Sayidu, for interrogation. The alleged owner, Ashietu Adams, was said to have fled.
The Deputy Director in charge of the Pharmaceutical Division, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, NAFDAC, Pharm. Edith Joseph, disclosed this on Thursday during an inspection of the facility.
Joseph said the agency received intelligence on October 16 about the alleged production of Ashietu Adams Bitters bearing a fake NAFDAC registration number. The information prompted surveillance and intelligence gathering, which led to the discovery of the facility concealed within a residential building.
“What we found was shocking. The facility was in a very poor and unhygienic condition. Look at the water they use for production and the environment where the manufacturing takes place. The products are manufactured outdoors, in the open air. I can tell you that this facility is not approved by NAFDAC,” she said.
The products recovered included Ashietu Adams Herbal Mixture for sexually transmitted diseases, Ashietu Adams Blood Purifier and another herbal preparation purportedly intended for the management of high blood pressure.
According to Joseph, none of the three products was registered with NAFDAC, while the registration number displayed on the blood purifier belonged to a registered cough syrup.
“The number belongs to another registered product, which is a cough syrup. They simply copied the number and placed it on their product to deceive Nigerians,” she said.
She added that the products were manufactured without regulatory approval and their packaging lacked the manufacturer’s name and a verifiable address, making it difficult to establish their origin.
Joseph said the agency had sealed the premises pending further investigation and moved the recovered products to its office.
She disclosed that Sayidu told investigators he had worked with Adams for about a year and helped manage the business, particularly when she travelled. The manager reportedly identified Adams as a Ghanaian woman and claimed she had travelled to Ghana.
NAFDAC said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the operation and determine the whereabouts of the alleged owner.
NAFDAC warns against fake registration number
Joseph warned Nigerians against relying solely on NAFDAC registration numbers when purchasing herbal medicines and other regulated products, noting that counterfeiters could copy legitimate numbers to make unregistered products appear approved.
She advised consumers to verify product details through NAFDAC’s online verification platforms and the agency’s Greenbook.
“If the name displayed does not match the product being presented, consumers should know that something is wrong,” she said.
She urged consumers, particularly those in rural communities with limited internet access, to visit the nearest NAFDAC office for assistance in verifying products before purchasing or consuming them.
The deputy director identified the absence of a valid registration number, manufacturer’s name and verifiable address as major warning signs, adding that the agency was intensifying surveillance and enforcement operations against illegal manufacturing outlets.
Also speaking during the inspection, NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Mrs Christiana Obiazikwor, called for greater public participation in the fight against counterfeit and unregistered products.
Obiazikwor warned landlords and property owners against allowing their premises to be used for illegal manufacturing, stressing that those found to be facilitating such activities could face prosecution.
She urged property owners to monitor activities on their premises and report suspicious operations to the appropriate authorities.
“We cannot fight this battle alone. Every Nigerian has a role to play in identifying and reporting places where illegal manufacturing activities are taking place,” she said.
Obiazikwor said NAFDAC was expanding public awareness through radio programmes, multilingual jingles and community sensitisation campaigns, including its “NAFDAC and Your Health” programme.
She added that the agency was conducting awareness campaigns in local government areas, churches and schools to educate Nigerians on how to identify suspicious products and report illegal manufacturing activities.
Emphasising the importance of product traceability, she urged consumers to check details such as the manufacturer’s address and batch number instead of relying exclusively on registration numbers.
“These products do not have batch numbers or the manufacturer’s address. These are important details that help establish the identity and traceability of a product,” she said.
She further disclosed that the agency was working towards stiffer penalties for offences involving the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit and unregistered products.
NAFDAC urged members of the public to report suspected illegal manufacturing activities, assuring them that such reports would be handled discreetly.
