NAFDAC Blames Chinese Syndicates for Surge in Fake Products in Nigeria

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm over the growing circulation of fake and unsafe products in Nigeria, blaming alleged Chinese-led counterfeit networks operating within the country.

NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, revealed that the counterfeit trade has reportedly taken a new turn, with some foreign operators previously involved in importing fake products now allegedly establishing production and distribution networks inside Nigeria.

According to Iluyomade, the syndicates identify products that are selling quickly in the Nigerian market, send samples to China for replication and then distribute the counterfeit versions locally through logistics companies allegedly controlled by them. He said the situation has become more difficult to tackle because some of the alleged counterfeiters are now operating within Nigeria.

“Before, to fake a product, you needed to go to China to bring it. Now, they are here with us.”

NAFDAC said it has started shutting down illegal logistics facilities allegedly connected to the networks as part of its efforts to disrupt the counterfeit trade. 

The agency’s warning comes amid growing concerns over the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products, including fake cosmetics, adulterated toothpaste, contaminated bottled water and unsafe dairy products. NAFDAC also confirmed receiving complaints about counterfeit Oral-B and Colgate toothpaste. The agency said arrests and seizures have been carried out in Kano, Sokoto, Delta and Onitsha, with two people reportedly facing prosecution over the alleged importation of fake toothpaste. 

The scale of the counterfeit crisis has also raised eyebrows. NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said enforcement operations in Lagos and the South-East resulted in the seizure and destruction of regulated products worth more than N1.5 trillion.

The agency also revealed that it secured 64 convictions between June 2025 and June 2026, describing the figure as the highest in its history. One convicted operator reportedly received a five-year prison sentence for running an illegal facility involved in counterfeiting drinks. 

With counterfeit products increasingly finding their way into Nigerian markets, NAFDAC says it is intensifying surveillance, arrests and enforcement operations to protect consumers and legitimate businesses.