The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disclosed that cosmetic products, food items, and beverages constitute more than half of all counterfeit goods circulating in Nigeria. This revelation came during a press conference marking the 2026 International Anti-Counterfeit Month, observed globally every June.
NAFDAC Director-General's Statement
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by Dr. Martins Iluyomade, Director of Investigation and Enforcement, stated that the figure is based on the volume of confiscated fake cosmetics, food, and beverages. She also noted that counterfeit and substandard medicines—containing incorrect ingredients, insufficient active pharmaceutical substances, or no active ingredients at all—were seized during agency operations across the country.
“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,” Adeyeye said.
Evolving Counterfeiting Tactics
The agency expressed concern over the evolving methods used by counterfeiters to flood Nigerian markets with fake goods. According to NAFDAC, these tactics pose a serious threat to public health and national security. The Director-General explained that counterfeiters now use online procurement systems, allowing individuals to order counterfeit products directly from foreign manufacturers without leaving Nigeria. They also exploit cargo consolidation systems, known as groupage, to smuggle products into the country.
Under the groupage arrangement, multiple importers share a single shipping container, making it difficult for regulators to identify suspicious consignments. “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,” Adeyeye noted.
She added that foreign companies have agents or suppliers who monitor products with high market demand and arrange for counterfeit versions to be manufactured abroad, particularly in Asia. “These fake products often replicate the packaging of genuine brands so closely that consumers and even retailers struggle to distinguish them from authentic products,” she said.
Regulatory Challenges and Collaboration
NAFDAC acknowledged the difficulty of monitoring every package entering the country. “No country in the world can effectively monitor every single package entering through such channels. This has become a serious security concern, not just for medicines but for other regulated products,” the Director-General stated.
To address these challenges, NAFDAC has strengthened collaboration with security agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service and other regulatory bodies. The agency is also working to close regulatory loopholes and improve verification systems that allow manufacturers to confirm whether imported shipments actually originated from their facilities.
“This fight cannot be won by NAFDAC alone. Government institutions, manufacturers, importers, logistics companies, healthcare professionals, media and consumers all have a role to play in safeguarding public health,” Adeyeye emphasized.
Judicial Support and Convictions
NAFDAC commended the judiciary for expediting the prosecution of drug-related cases and securing swift convictions. “We have had a number of convictions since last year. The most recent was an individual that was sentenced to 40 years in prison in a case that started last November and completed in February,” the Director-General said.
Call to Action
The agency urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, purchase medicines only from authorized outlets, verify products using available authentication technologies, and promptly report suspected counterfeit products to the appropriate authorities.
