From counterfeit medicines and substandard cosmetics to unsafe food and drinks, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has destroyed regulated products worth N22.73 billion in an intensified nationwide crackdown between January and August 2026.
The agency disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, saying the operations were aimed at protecting public health, removing dangerous products from circulation and strengthening compliance with safety and quality standards.
According to NAFDAC, the enforcement campaign was conducted by its Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Nigeria, covering food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, packaged water, drinks and chemicals.
Data from the agency’s Directorate of Investigation and Enforcement showed that it recorded 5,542 enforcement activities, conducted 213 raids, documented 821 product seizure entries, closed or sealed 179 premises and made 52 arrests during the eight-month period.
The directorate also recorded 474 new cases, concluded 295 cases and conducted 22 destruction exercises.
Enforcement activities intensify
In January, NAFDAC carried out 232 enforcement activities, including 20 raids, sealed seven premises and made eight arrests. Drinks accounted for the highest number of activities at 83, followed by drugs with 60. The agency imposed 19 sanctions and concluded 10 of the 35 newly reported cases.
Enforcement activity rose to 423 in February, when the agency conducted 36 raids, sealed 47 premises and made 11 arrests. It imposed 17 sanctions, concluded 19 of the 55 newly reported cases and destroyed products worth N1.29 billion.
In March, NAFDAC recorded 387 enforcement activities and 20 raids, sealed nine premises and imposed 18 sanctions. It also concluded 43 cases and conducted two destruction exercises involving products valued at N2.56 billion, bringing the cumulative value of destroyed goods to N3.85 billion.
The crackdown gathered momentum in April, with 673 enforcement activities, 46 raids and 94 product seizure entries. The agency sealed 32 premises, made seven arrests and imposed 26 sanctions. Cosmetics accounted for 272 activities, while food products recorded 183.
May was among the busiest months, with 1,076 enforcement activities. NAFDAC conducted six raids, recorded 90 seizure entries, sealed 18 premises and imposed 35 sanctions.
The agency also carried out five destruction exercises involving products worth N3.30 billion, bringing the cumulative value of destroyed goods to N7.15 billion. Chemicals accounted for 396 enforcement activities, followed by cosmetics with 219.
In June, NAFDAC recorded 721 enforcement activities, conducted 35 raids and documented 165 seizure entries. It sealed nine premises, made seven arrests and imposed 20 sanctions. Eight destruction exercises involving products worth N6.40 billion raised the cumulative value of destroyed goods to N13.55 billion.
July records highest monthly destruction value
July recorded the highest monthly enforcement activity during the period, with 1,089 activities, 22 raids and 240 seizure entries. The agency sealed 37 premises, made 12 arrests and imposed 49 sanctions.
It also concluded 59 cases out of 97 newly reported cases and conducted four destruction exercises involving products worth N9.03 billion, the highest monthly destruction value recorded during the period. The exercises brought the cumulative value of destroyed goods to N22.58 billion.
In August, NAFDAC recorded 941 enforcement activities, conducted 28 raids and documented 232 seizure entries. It sealed 20 premises, made three arrests and imposed 37 sanctions.
The directorate concluded 69 cases, compared with 61 newly reported cases, while two destruction exercises involving products valued at N157.7 million brought the cumulative value of destroyed goods to N22.73 billion.
Cosmetics, drinks top seizure records
The agency’s data showed that cosmetics accounted for the highest number of product seizure entries, with 401, followed by drinks with 215, drugs with 112, food products with 69 and chemicals with 22.
NAFDAC said the nationwide enforcement operations formed part of its broader efforts to curb the circulation of counterfeit, falsified and substandard products and ensure that regulated goods meet the required safety and quality standards.
