The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disclosed that cosmetics, food, and beverages account for more than half of all counterfeit products seized across Nigeria, raising fresh concerns over the growing threat posed by fake and substandard goods.
The agency made the revelation on Wednesday during a press conference marking the 2026 International Anti-Counterfeit Month, an annual global campaign observed every June to raise awareness about the dangers of counterfeit products.
Speaking on behalf of NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, said counterfeit cosmetics remain the most commonly seized fake products in Nigeria, followed closely by food and beverage items.
According to him, the volume of seizures recorded by the agency shows that cosmetics, food, and beverages collectively account for over 50 per cent of counterfeit products intercepted during enforcement operations.
“Cosmetics account for the most counterfeited products in Nigeria, followed by food and beverages, accounting for more than 50 per cent of seizures. Pharmaceuticals also account for a significant proportion of NAFDAC’s enforcement activities,” he said.
The agency noted that counterfeit and substandard medicines containing wrong ingredients, insufficient active pharmaceutical substances, or no active ingredients at all continue to circulate in the market despite intensified regulatory efforts.
NAFDAC also expressed concern over the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by counterfeiters to bring fake products into the country.
It said technological advancements and global logistics networks have made it easier for individuals to procure counterfeit goods directly from foreign manufacturers.
Adeyeye explained that online procurement systems now enable buyers to place orders from Nigeria without physically travelling abroad, while counterfeiters exploit cargo consolidation arrangements, commonly known as groupage, to evade regulatory scrutiny.
Under the groupage system, several importers share a single shipping container, making it difficult for authorities to identify suspicious consignments and trace ownership of illicit products.
“Previously, importers had to travel abroad, inspect factories and arrange shipments themselves. Today, someone can sit comfortably in a shop in Nigeria, place an order online, and have counterfeit products delivered to their doorstep through logistics companies,” she said.
She added that foreign suppliers closely monitor products with strong demand in the Nigerian market and arrange for counterfeit versions to be manufactured, particularly in parts of Asia.
According to the agency, many of these fake products are packaged to closely resemble genuine brands, making it difficult for consumers and retailers to distinguish them from authentic items.
Adeyeye warned that the challenge has evolved into a broader security issue, stressing that no country can effectively inspect every package entering through modern international shipping channels.
“This has become a serious security concern, not just for medicines but for other regulated products,” she said.
To curb the menace, NAFDAC said it has strengthened collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security and regulatory agencies.
The agency is also working to improve verification systems that enable manufacturers to confirm whether imported products genuinely originated from their facilities.
The director-general stressed that tackling counterfeit products requires collective action from government agencies, manufacturers, importers, logistics companies, healthcare professionals, the media, and consumers.
She also praised the judiciary for accelerating the prosecution of counterfeit drug cases, noting that several convictions have been secured in recent months.
“We have had a number of convictions since last year. The most recent was an individual who was sentenced to 40 years in prison in a case that started last November and was completed in February,” she said.
NAFDAC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant by purchasing medicines and regulated products only from authorised outlets, using available authentication technologies to verify products, and reporting suspected counterfeit items to relevant authorities.
