NAFDAC Busts Illegal Factory Producing Counterfeit Herbal Products in Lagos
In a bid to safeguard public health and curb the circulation of illegal products in the Nigerian market, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered an illegal manufacturing facility in Agege, Lagos, where unregistered herbal products were being produced under unhygienic conditions, with one of the products bearing a fake registration number belonging to a registered cough syrup.
The agency said the discovery exposed consumers to potential health risks, as the products were manufactured in a makeshift facility without regulatory approval, proper identification of the manufacturer or adequate hygiene standards.
Deputy Director in charge of the Pharmaceutical Division, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, NAFDAC, Pharmacist Edith Joseph, disclosed this on Thursday, October 22, during an inspection of the facility in Agege.
Joseph explained that the agency received intelligence on October 16 about the production of a product identified as Aishetu Adams Bitters, which was allegedly being manufactured with a fake NAFDAC registration number.
She said officers subsequently embarked on surveillance and intelligence gathering for almost a month before identifying the location, which was 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.”
Josephs said the agency identified three products at the facility: Ashietu Adams Herbal Mixture for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), Ashietu Adams Blood Purifier and another product claimed to be used for high blood pressure.
She explained that the products were not registered with NAFDAC, adding that the registration number displayed on the blood purifier belonged to a different product approved by the agency.
According to her, the manufacturers allegedly copied the registration number of a registered cough syrup and placed it on the herbal product to mislead consumers into believing it had received regulatory approval.
“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.”
The deputy director said the agency had evacuated the products during its initial visit and taken them to its office, while the facility was sealed pending further investigation.
She added that the agency arrested the facility’s manager, Abulaziz Sayidu, for interrogation, while the alleged owner of the illegal manufacturing operation, Ashietu Adams, had absconded. According to Josephs, the manager claimed that Adams, whom he identified as a Ghanaian woman, had travelled to Ghana. She said the agency was still investigating the circumstances surrounding the operation and the whereabouts of the alleged owner.
Josephs noted that although the packaging indicated that the products originated from Ghana, it did not contain the manufacturer’s name or a verifiable address that could establish where they were produced.
The NAFDAC official stressed that none of the three products recovered from the facility was registered with the agency, noting that no product manufactured under such conditions would qualify for registration.
She urged Nigerians not to assume that a product was safe merely because it displayed a NAFDAC registration number, advising consumers to verify such numbers through the agency’s online verification platforms and the NAFDAC Greenbook.
Josephs explained that the verification platforms would enable consumers to identify the product associated with a registration number and detect cases where a number had been copied from another product.
“If the name displayed does not match the product being presented, consumers should know that something is wrong.”
She advised consumers in rural communities and areas with limited internet access to visit the nearest NAFDAC office for assistance in verifying the authenticity of products before purchasing or consuming them.
The deputy director also warned Nigerians against purchasing products that lacked a valid registration number, the manufacturer’s name or a verifiable address, describing these omissions as major warning signs.
She said the agency had continued to intensify surveillance and enforcement operations to identify and dismantle illegal manufacturing outlets across the country.
Also speaking during the inspection, Deputy Director of Public Relations, NAFDAC, Mrs Christiana Obiazikwor, called for greater public involvement in the fight against counterfeit and unregistered products, warning property owners against allowing their buildings to be used for illegal manufacturing activities.
Obiazikwor said the agency was intensifying public education through radio programmes, multilingual jingles and community sensitisation campaigns to reach Nigerians in rural and grassroots communities.
She identified “NAFDAC and Your Health” as one of the agency’s programmes designed to educate the public about the dangers of fake and unregistered products, particularly in communities where internet access was limited.
According to her, NAFDAC officers also conduct sensitisation programmes in local government areas, churches and schools to educate residents on how to identify suspicious products and report illegal manufacturing activities.
She stressed that consumers needed to examine other product details beyond the registration number, particularly the manufacturer’s address, batch number and other information that could help establish a product’s identity and traceability.
“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.”
Obiazikwor said the agency was also working towards ensuring stiffer penalties for offences involving the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit and unregistered products.
She further warned that property owners could face prosecution if their buildings were used for illegal drug manufacturing and they were found to be aiding criminal activities.
According to her, the discovery presented an opportunity to remind landlords and property owners of their responsibility to pay attention to the activities of their tenants and report suspicious operations to the appropriate authorities.
She assured the public that reports of suspected illegal manufacturing activities would be handled discreetly, urging Nigerians to cooperate with NAFDAC in identifying and reporting locations where counterfeit products were being produced.
“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.”
Meanwhile, the facility’s manager, Abulaziz Sayidu, told officials during questioning that he assisted Adams in managing the business, particularly when she travelled.
Sayidu said he had worked with Adams for about a year and identified Ajetu Adams Vitals, Ajetu Adams STD and Ajetu Adams Blood Purifier as products associated with the business.
He, however, did not provide further details about the manufacturing process or the regulatory status of the products in his responses during the interview.
NAFDAC’s investigation into the facility and the whereabouts of the alleged owner was ongoing as of Thursday, October 22.
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