NAFDAC seizes N350m worth of expired, unregistered products in Kano

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated expired, unregistered, and substandard food and cosmetic products valued at more than N350 million during a targeted enforcement operation in Kano State.

In a statement released via its official X handle on Sunday, NAFDAC revealed that the three-day raid was prompted by public petitions and led by its Directors of Investigation and Enforcement and the North-West Zonal Office.

The crackdown targeted Singer Market and several supermarkets across the Kano metropolis. Items seized included expired candies, beverages, and foreign products without English labeling, all deemed unfit for consumption or sale.

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Notably, unregistered food and cosmetic products were also found in major supermarket chains.

NAFDAC disclosed that investigations are ongoing to trace and prosecute individuals involved in the distribution of these products. The agency urged Nigerians to report suspicious or unregulated items to the nearest NAFDAC office.

Reaffirming its commitment to public safety, NAFDAC emphasized its continued efforts to rid Nigerian markets of unsafe and unregulated products.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has repeatedly stressed the agency’s dedication to combating the circulation of expired, counterfeit, and substandard goods in the country.

Earlier this year, in January 2025, the agency destroyed counterfeit and unwholesome products worth about N1.37 billion in Abuja.

According to Dr. Festus Ukadike, who represented Prof. Adeyeye, the items included rebagged rice, expired drinks, and unregistered cosmetics—some of which were voluntarily surrendered by companies.

In a similar operation in February 2025, NAFDAC destroyed fake and expired products valued at N4.7 billion in Rivers State. During this raid, warehouses containing expired alcoholic beverages, unregistered cosmetics, and vegetable oil lacking mandatory vitamin A fortification were uncovered.

Prof. Adeyeye has consistently warned about the dangers of counterfeit and substandard products, citing risks such as treatment failure, drug resistance, prolonged illnesses, and even death.

She has also called on the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of the Counterfeit Medical Products Bill, which would enhance NAFDAC’s legal authority to tackle the menace more effectively.

The agency continues to encourage the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of illegal product distribution or sales.