They Are Here With Us” — NAFDAC Reveals New Dimension To Fake Goods Crisis

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised concerns over an emerging trend in Nigeria’s counterfeit goods market, alleging that some Chinese nationals involved in counterfeiting have established production facilities and logistics networks within the country.

According to Ireporter Online, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, disclosed this during an interview in Lagos on Monday.

Iluyomade said recent investigations indicated that counterfeiters who previously operated outside Nigeria could now be setting up operations locally, allowing them to manufacture, import and distribute fake products without travelling abroad.

He explained that the development had made the counterfeit goods challenge more difficult to tackle, as some of those allegedly involved were also linked to logistics companies used to move the products across the country.

According to the enforcement director, NAFDAC has begun taking action against some of the logistics companies allegedly involved and has shut down facilities identified during its investigations.

The agency also confirmed receiving complaints concerning counterfeit toothpaste, particularly products marketed under the Oral-B and Colgate brands.

Iluyomade disclosed that intelligence gathered by the agency had led to several arrests and seizures in Kano, Sokoto, Delta and Onitsha in Anambra State.

He further revealed that NAFDAC was prosecuting two suspects accused of importing counterfeit toothpaste products, as the agency intensifies its efforts to dismantle networks involved in the distribution of fake goods.

The enforcement director also highlighted what he described as significant progress in the prosecution of counterfeiters, stating that NAFDAC secured 64 convictions between June 2025 and June 2026, the highest number recorded by the agency within a one-year period.

He added that one of the cases resulted in a five-year prison sentence in December after a court convicted an operator of a facility involved in the counterfeiting of drinks on all eight charges brought against the defendant.

The latest revelations come amid growing concerns over the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in Nigeria, with manufacturers, health professionals and other stakeholders warning about the potential consequences for consumers and legitimate businesses.

NAFDAC has continued to intensify enforcement activities, including arrests, seizures, prosecutions and the closure of facilities suspected of being connected to the production or distribution of counterfeit products.