As part of a major enforcement operation against counterfeit goods, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) closed an illicit cosmetics manufacturing plant at Benue Plaza, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos State.
NAFDAC disclosed that its agents found significant amounts of unregistered chemicals, expired goods, and packaging materials meant for the creation of counterfeit cosmetics in a message that was published on X, the agency’s defunct Twitter account.
More than 1,200 containers containing fake items were taken out of the area. Concerns regarding consumer safety were raised when it was found that cosmetics that had expired were being revalidated for sale.
Additionally, the agency seized supplies for batch coding, thinners, unlabelled chemicals, mini-mixing containers, and other equipment used in the illegal production process. These items were brought to the NAFDAC office so that additional research could be done. The agency calculates that the seized commodities have a street worth of about N50 million.
NAFDAC has reaffirmed its dedication to safeguarding the public’s health by taking tough measures against illicit and unregulated goods on the Nigerian market.
The agency issued a statement, available to BrandSpur national news stories, advising customers to be cautious when buying cosmetics, especially from unreliable sources, and to report any suspicious products to NAFDAC so that appropriate action can be taken.
This operation is a testament to NAFDAC’s continued efforts to stop the manufacture and sale of counterfeit goods, which seriously endanger public health and safety.
To protect the integrity of Nigeria’s cosmetics sector, the agency has stressed that these enforcement actions are part of a larger effort to make sure that only regulated and certified items reach consumers.
It is pertinent to know in a related occurrence, some five months ago, NAFDAC closed down several unregistered bakeries and water-packaging businesses that were operating in Plateau State without the agency’s authorisation.
The North Central Zone Director of NAFDAC, Mr. Shaba Mohammed, stated that the closure came about as a result of inspections revealing inadequate Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the water-packaging companies. Consequently, these businesses were closed to stop possibly dangerous products from being sold.
Furthermore, several patent medicine outlets were shut down for selling unlicensed and outdated medical supplies.
The raid was conducted as part of NAFDAC’s regular inspections in local government areas including Dengi, Wase, Yelwa Shendam, and Namu. Its objectives were to safeguard public health and enforce adherence to safety regulations.
Continuing, Mr. Mohammed underlined that NAFDAC is still dedicated to making sure Nigerian customers may purchase only safe and approved goods. He asked people to be on the lookout for strange or expired products, to report them, and to limit their purchases to just NAFDAC-registered goods.
In addition, he restated that companies that violate the agency’s rules will be subject to the proper penalties. He counselled prospective business owners to get advice on product registration to avoid fines.
