The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered an illegal operation involving fake chemicals, expired food flavours, fertilizers, and repackaged raw materials in Lagos, with an estimated value of over N1 billion.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos, NAFDAC revealed that the operation was busted in the Alapere area of Ketu. The enforcement action led to the arrest of three suspects and the sealing of three warehouses connected to the illicit activities.
According to the statement, the operation was led by the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, following credible intelligence about a criminal network threatening public health.
“This is one of the campaigns our agency is carrying out to protect the health of Nigerians,” Iluyomade stated. “We received information that some individuals were pretending to run a legitimate business, but in reality, they were engaging in serious criminal activities that put people’s lives at risk.”
He said the primary offence was the sale of expired chemicals—some of which are classified as raw materials or precursors used in the production of consumer goods.
“If an expired chemical is used, it is impossible to get a safe or effective final product. This makes it a serious health risk,” he explained.
The agency also uncovered dangerous chemicals at the site, some of which pose a significant security threat and are meant to be handled only by licensed government agencies or authorized users.
Among the items found were expired food additives reportedly imported by a registered company in Nigeria. NAFDAC stated that the company would be investigated to determine how the products ended up in unauthorized hands.
“Some of the expired food-grade products we found came from a registered company legally allowed to import them. However, the expired batch ended up with a third party who is not a manufacturer. This raises serious concerns about how some multinationals operate in this country,” the statement read.
The agency also found stockpiles of fertilizers that, by regulation, require clearance from the Office of the National Security Adviser. Yet these were allegedly being stored and sold without authorization.
The three warehouses located at the same site have been sealed off. The value of the seized fake and expired items is estimated at not less than N1 billion.
Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, Director of Chemical Evaluation and Control, described the situation as deeply troubling. He emphasized that many of the seized materials are strictly controlled and should never be in the possession of private individuals.
He urged companies to adhere strictly to NAFDAC’s guidelines when handling regulated substances, warning that violators would face the full weight of the law.
