Lawmakers demand nationwide raids, prosecution of offenders
Warn of poisoning, cancer, kidney and liver damage
The House of Representatives has directed key regulatory agencies to intensify the crackdown on fake, adulterated and substandard food and beverages across Nigeria, warning that the growing circulation of unsafe products poses a serious threat to public health.
The lawmakers urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to strengthen surveillance, step up inspections and work with security agencies to rid markets of dangerous products.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Abubakar Yalleman, representing Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, during Tuesday’s plenary.
Moving the motion, Yalleman said access to safe and quality food and beverages was essential to the health, well-being and productivity of Nigerians.
He stressed that proper food processing, standardised production methods and strict hygiene practices were necessary to prevent foodborne illnesses caused by harmful bacteria, chemical residues, expired ingredients and other contaminants.
The lawmaker, however, expressed concern over reported cases of counterfeit alcoholic beverages and illegal food and drink manufacturing facilities, citing the dismantling of alcohol counterfeiting operations at Zamfara Plaza on Lagos Island by NAFDAC on April 22, 2026.
He also cited a raid by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on an illegal, unregistered fruit juice factory in Badagry, Lagos State, on September 22, 2026.
According to him, the incidents exposed the dangers posed by operators who manufacture and distribute unsafe products that unsuspecting Nigerians consume daily.
Yalleman warned that some manufacturers and distributors counterfeit established brands, alter product labels and expiry dates, use contaminated raw materials and illegally refill containers, thereby exposing consumers to life-threatening health conditions.
He said such practices could cause acute poisoning, foodborne diseases and damage to vital organs, including the kidneys, lungs, liver and heart, while increasing the risk of other serious illnesses.
The lawmaker expressed particular concern for children, older persons and other vulnerable groups, who may suffer severe consequences from consuming contaminated or adulterated food and drinks.
He noted that while NAFDAC regulates food, bottled water and other products under its mandate, SON is responsible for enforcing applicable standards, while the FCCPC protects consumers against unsafe products and unfair market practices.
Despite the existence of these agencies, he said counterfeit and substandard products continued to find their way into Nigerian markets, often carrying misleading information about ingredients, manufacturers, batch numbers, production dates and expiry dates.
“The House is disturbed that with the presence of NAFDAC, SON, FCCPC, the Police, NSCDC, the increasing circulation of fake and substandard food and drinks is a very disturbing development which calls for more legislative and executive actions,” Yalleman said.
He called for more effective and coordinated surveillance, inspections, enforcement and timely prosecution of offenders throughout the food and beverage supply chain.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the Federal Government to treat the production and circulation of fake, adulterated, counterfeit and substandard food and beverages as a matter of urgent national importance.
It also called on NAFDAC, SON and FCCPC to collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, state governments and other relevant agencies to intensify nationwide surveillance and enforcement operations.
The proposed measures include market inspections, product sampling, laboratory testing and the removal of unsafe products from circulation.
The lawmakers further stressed the need to hold manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers accountable where they are found to be involved in the production or sale of counterfeit and substandard products.
To strengthen oversight, the House mandated its relevant committees, particularly those on Health, Industry, Customs, Standards and Consumer Protection, to engage regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to assess the scale of the problem and examine the effectiveness of existing enforcement measures.
The committees are expected to report back to the House within four weeks with recommendations for further legislative action to curb the circulation of counterfeit and substandard food, beverages and drugs.
The resolution comes amid growing concerns over consumer safety and the need to ensure that food and beverages sold in Nigerian markets meet established quality and regulatory standards.
