The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed two Chinese-owned supermarkets in the Jabi District and eight cosmetics shops in Wuse Market, Abuja, for selling unregistered, expired, and potentially harmful products in violation of Nigeria’s food and drug regulations.
According to a statement released by the agency, the enforcement operation followed a series of consumer complaints and market surveillance, which revealed that the supermarkets — located along Mike Akhigbe Way and Ebitu Ukiwe Street — were selling food items labelled exclusively in Chinese. This practice, NAFDAC noted, contravenes its labelling policy, which mandates that all products sold in Nigeria must carry English-language descriptions and ingredient information.
In a related operation, eight cosmetics and beauty shops in Wuse Market were shut down for selling banned, expired, and unregistered cosmetics, aphrodisiacs, and aesthetic medicines. Some of the operators were reportedly posing as dermatologists and pharmacists, prescribing and selling products capable of causing serious health complications.
Products worth over ₦170 million were confiscated during the raids, including Wenicks Capsules, Maxman Capsules, Boobs Enlargement Creams, Curvy Weight Gain Supplements, Skin Whitening Gummies, Collagen, Royal Jelly, Glutathione Whitening Gummies, White Doll, Dr. Gallery Plus, Maiz Zaki Syrup, Original Herbal Yellow Fever Medicine, Sickle Cell Medicine, Dr. Nafisa Herbal Medicine, Dynewell Syrup, and White Blinks, among others.
NAFDAC disclosed that many of these products have been linked to kidney damage, skin cancer, liver toxicity, and neurological disorders, posing significant risks to public health.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed the agency’s determination to protect Nigerians from unsafe products and ensure compliance with national health and safety standards.
“The sale of unregistered or toxic products will not be tolerated. Offenders will face strict regulatory sanctions in accordance with Nigerian law,” Prof. Adeyeye warned.
She further urged foreign nationals and investors wishing to import or market products in Nigeria to engage directly with NAFDAC for proper registration, certification, and regulatory guidance before distribution.
Prof. Adeyeye emphasized that the agency will continue to conduct routine surveillance and enforcement operations nationwide to rid the markets of unwholesome products and safeguard public health.
