By Oluwabukunmi
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed two Chinese supermarkets in the Jabi District of Abuja and eight cosmetics shops in Wuse Market for violating regulations governing the sale, distribution, and labelling of products in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Deputy Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Adegboyega Osiyemi, the agency said the enforcement followed the directive of its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye. Confiscated and evacuated products were valued at over ₦170 million.
According to NAFDAC, the supermarkets located on Mike Akhigbe Way and Ebitu Ukiwe Street were sealed after credible consumer complaints and surveillance revealed they were selling unregistered food items labelled exclusively in Chinese, contrary to NAFDAC’s mandatory policy requiring English translations for products sold in Nigeria.
“Despite initial denials by a foreign national at Ebitu Street, the enforcement team confirmed the outlet was in full operation and selling unregistered regulated products,” the statement noted. The operation was led by the NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement Directorate alongside the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Substandard Medicines and Unwholesome Processed Foods.
In a related development, eight cosmetics shops in Wuse Market were also shut down for selling banned, expired, and unregistered products, including aphrodisiacs and aesthetic medicines. NAFDAC said some individuals were falsely presenting themselves as dermatologists and pharmacists, prescribing harmful products for skin whitening, body enhancement, and sexual performance.
Items seized include Wenicks Capsules, Maxman Capsules, Skin Whitening Vitamin Gummies, Collagen, Royal Jelly, Glutathione Whitening Gummies, White Doll, and various unregistered herbal medicines.
Prof. Adeyeye, in the statement, stressed that many of the products pose severe health risks, such as skin cancer, kidney damage, irritability, and memory loss. She urged consumers to only patronise NAFDAC-registered goods.
“Foreign nationals and investors intending to import or market products in Nigeria are advised to visit NAFDAC offices nationwide for product registration and regulatory guidance,” the agency warned.
