NAFDAC Seals Chinese Supermarkets, Other Shops in Abuja Over Fake, Unregistered Goods

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NDLEA) has sealed two Chinese supermarkets in the Jabi District of Abuja and eight cosmetics shops at Wuse Market for what it described as “flagrant violations” of Nigeria’s laws on regulated products.

NAFDAC, in a statement issued on Friday by its Deputy Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Adegboyega Osiyemi, said the enforcement followed credible consumer complaints and undercover surveillance.

“The supermarkets, situated on Mike Akhigbe Way and Ebitu Ukiwe Street in Jabi District, Abuja, were sealed following credible consumer complaints and subsequent surveillance by the NAFDAC Enforcement Team,” the agency said.

It explained that the operators were selling unregistered food items and products labelled exclusively in the Chinese language, contrary to the agency’s policy requiring all products sold in Nigeria to carry English translations for regulatory and consumer understanding.

Despite denials by a foreign national at the Ebitu Street branch that the shop had not yet commenced operations, the enforcement team confirmed that the outlet was in full operation.

The exercise was led by officials of NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate alongside the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Substandard Medicines and Unwholesome Processed Foods.

Acting on the directive of NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the team confiscated and evacuated offending products estimated at over ₦170m.

Prof. Adeyeye, according to the statement, reiterated that the agency would not compromise on its duty to protect Nigerians from exposure to dangerous products.

In a related operation, NAFDAC also sealed eight cosmetics shops in Wuse Market over the sale of banned, expired, and unregistered products.

According to the agency, investigations revealed that some individuals had been “illegally parading themselves as dermatologists and pharmacists,” prescribing and selling harmful products for skin whitening, body enhancement, and sexual performance.

Items confiscated during the raid included Wenicks Capsules, Maxman Capsules, Boobs Enlargement, Curvy Weight Gain, Skin Whitening Vitamin Gummies, Collagen, Royal Jelly, Glutathione Whitening Gummies, White Doll, Dr. Gallery Plus, Maiz Zaki Syrup, Original Herbal Yellow Fever, Sickle Cell Medicine, Dr. Nafisa Herbal Medicine, Dynewell Syrup, and White Blinks, among others.

NAFDAC warned that many of the seized products were linked to severe health risks, including kidney damage, skin cancer, irritability, and memory loss.

“The agency hereby reaffirms its commitment to enforcing compliance with NAFDAC regulations and advises Nigerian consumers to patronise only products duly registered by NAFDAC,” the statement read.

It also urged foreign nationals and investors wishing to operate in Nigeria to seek proper regulatory clearance: “Foreign nationals and investors intending to import or market products in Nigeria are advised to visit NAFDAC offices nationwide for product registration and regulatory guidance.”