The proliferation of counterfeit products in Nigeria’s market has sparked widespread concern among its citizens. In a recent interview monitored by Media Talk Africa on Channels Television, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, attributed the prevalence of fake products to inadequate workforce and porosity of the country’s borders.
Adeyeye emphasized that the influx of fake products mirrors the underlying challenges faced by Nigeria. She underscored the importance of consumers being vigilant and purchasing goods only from reputable sources as NAFDAC intensifies its efforts to curb the spread of counterfeit products.
Addressing the issue, Adeyeye highlighted the concerted efforts of the 10th National Assembly and the Minister of Health to address NAFDAC’s staff shortage and enhance legislation for prosecuting perpetrators of counterfeit products in Nigeria.
She revealed, “We conduct routine market inspections to ensure that registered products are available on the shelves. However, we also rely on intelligence. In a recent raid in Aba, the investigation had been ongoing for a while. But when a significant portion of the market is involved in counterfeiting, we can make seizures without prior notice. Consequently, caution is advised, and I urge the public to make purchases from authorized outlets. If a product’s price seems too good to be true, it likely is fake. Unfortunately, our borders are highly porous, leading consumers to accept cheap products unquestioningly.”
Adeyeye acknowledged NAFDAC’s operational efficiency but stressed the need for additional personnel, stating, “We currently have only 2,000 staff to oversee the regulation of products for over 200,000 Nigerians, which exacerbates the problem.”
Commenting on the equipment available to the agency, Adeyeye noted, “We acquired 40 ‘true scans’ for detecting counterfeit medicines, which have been instrumental in identifying substandard drugs. However, the sheer volume of counterfeit products necessitates advanced chemometric training for our staff, which is currently underway.”
Highlighting the financial challenges faced, Adeyeye lamented, “We had initially planned to procure 72 scanners, at a rate of two or one per state, to be stationed at ports and borders. However, due to the devaluation of the Naira, we were only able to acquire 40 scanners.”
The public outcry over the unbridled proliferation of counterfeit products, including beverages, food items, medicines, cosmetics, and various other goods, has brought NAFDAC under intense scrutiny. Despite the formidable challenges, Adeyeye’s reassurance of an ongoing battle against counterfeit products offers a glimmer of hope for the consumer landscape in Nigeria.
