The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has linked part of Nigeria’s counterfeit goods problem to Chinese operators who, according to the regulator, have established production and logistics networks within the country.
NAFDAC said its investigations indicate that some counterfeit operations that previously required products to be manufactured or sourced abroad can now be coordinated from within Nigeria, making the supply and distribution of fake regulated products easier.
Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, said investigations had uncovered cases in which Chinese nationals identified products with strong demand in Nigeria and used logistics networks to facilitate the movement and distribution of counterfeit versions.
Brandspur Brand News reports that the agency has also identified logistics companies allegedly connected to the movement of such products and has been shutting down businesses found to be involved in the illicit trade.
The disclosure comes amid renewed public concern about counterfeit consumer products in Nigeria. Recent discussions on social media have drawn attention to suspected fake toothpaste, skincare products, bottled water, yoghurt drinks and other everyday goods, prompting questions about the safety of products reaching households.
NAFDAC confirmed receiving complaints about counterfeit toothpaste, including products presented as popular brands such as Oral-B and Colgate.
The regulator said intelligence-led operations have resulted in arrests and seizures in Kano, Sokoto and Delta states, as well as Onitsha in Anambra State. Two suspects are also being prosecuted over the alleged importation of counterfeit toothpaste brands.
Beyond the immediate health risks, the scale of the illicit market has significant implications for legitimate manufacturers, whose products must compete with cheaper counterfeits that may bypass regulatory requirements, quality controls and taxes.
NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency has intensified enforcement against falsified, substandard and unregistered products, including operations targeting major distribution centres.
The value of products intercepted or destroyed provides an indication of the scale of the challenge. According to Adeyeye, regulated products valued at more than ₦1.5 trillion were destroyed during a coordinated enforcement exercise covering Lagos and the South-East between February and March 2025.
NAFDAC puts the value of fake and substandard goods seized or destroyed nationwide since 2023 at more than ₦1.54 trillion.
The agency has also recorded an increase in successful prosecutions. Iluyomade said NAFDAC secured 64 convictions between June 2025 and June 2026, which he described as the highest number achieved within a one-year period in the regulator’s history.
One of the cases resulted in a five-year prison sentence in December for an operator involved in counterfeiting drinks, according to the enforcement director.
The latest findings highlight an increasingly complex enforcement challenge for Nigerian regulators, with counterfeit products no longer solely an import problem but, according to NAFDAC’s investigations, also involving networks operating from inside the country.
