Agency reveals shocking 50% of counterfeit seizures are everyday consumer products as smugglers go digital
NAFDAC warns counterfeiters now use online orders and cargo loopholes to bypass regulators
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm: cosmetics, food, and beverages now account for over 50% of all counterfeit products seized in Nigeria a startling revelation that exposes the scale of the fake goods epidemic sweeping the nation.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, dropped the bombshell Wednesday at a news conference marking the 2026 International Anti-Counterfeit Month.
Represented by Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr Martins Iluyomade, Adeyeye said the figure is based on the volume of confiscated fake products across the country.
“Cosmetics account for the most counterfeited products in Nigeria, followed by food and beverages, accounting for more than 50% of seizures,” she revealed.
Pharmaceuticals also make up a “significant proportion” of enforcement activities, she added.
The new face of counterfeiting
NAFDAC warned that counterfeiters have abandoned old methods for sophisticated digital tactics:
The online shopping nightmare:
· No more traveling abroad to inspect factories
· Counterfeiters now sit in Nigerian shops and order fake products online
· Foreign manufacturers, particularly in Asia, monitor market demand and produce counterfeit versions
· Products delivered directly through logistics companies
The cargo loophole:
· Exploitation of groupage systems (multiple importers sharing one shipping container)
· Makes it nearly impossible for regulators to identify suspicious consignments
“No country in the world can effectively monitor every single package entering through such channels,” Adeyeye warned.
The pharmaceutical danger
Beyond cosmetics and food, the agency raised alarm over fake medicines containing:
· Incorrect ingredients
· Insufficient active pharmaceutical substances
· No active ingredients at all
“This has become a serious security concern, not just for medicines but for other regulated products,” the DG stated.
Fighting back
NAFDAC announced a multi-pronged strategy:
· Strengthened collaboration with security agencies including Nigeria Customs Service
· Closing regulatory loopholes
· Improving verification systems to confirm legitimate imports
· Expedited prosecution with judiciary support
Victory in court:
· Recent convictions secured since last year
· Most recent: 40-year prison sentence for an individual in a case that ran from November to February
A call to action
Adeyeye stressed that NAFDAC cannot win this fight alone:
“Government institutions, manufacturers, importers, logistics companies, healthcare professionals, media and consumers all have a role to play.”
What Nigerians must do
The agency urged citizens to:
· Buy medicines only from authorized outlets
· Verify products using authentication technologies
· Report suspected counterfeits to authorities immediately
The revelation comes as counterfeit goods continue to pose serious threats to public health, national security, and the economy with fake everyday products now flooding Nigerian markets at alarming levels.
