By Peter Omopo
Lagos, July 8, 2025 — The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has busted a large-scale criminal syndicate engaged in the sale and distribution of fake industrial chemicals, expired food flavourings, unauthorised fertilisers, and repackaged pharmaceutical ingredients valued at over ₦1 billion in the Alapere area of Ketu, Lagos State.
During a high-impact enforcement operation, the agency sealed three warehouses stocked with hazardous substances and arrested three suspects in connection with the illegal trade.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, said the bust followed credible intelligence reports exposing a network of individuals masquerading as legitimate business operators while engaging in activities that pose serious public health risks.
“This is part of our sustained nationwide campaign to rid Nigeria of substandard and unsafe food, chemicals, and medical products,” Iluyomade said.
“What we uncovered here is shocking — expired and unregistered chemicals being repackaged and redirected into the food and pharmaceutical production chains.”
The operation revealed expired food flavourings such as roasted beef, roasted chicken, Chinook, tiger nut flavourings, and active pharmaceutical ingredients like metronidazole benzoate, all of which were being illegally stored and distributed without regulatory approval.
According to Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research at NAFDAC, several controlled substances and fertilisers requiring special security clearance were also discovered in the warehouses, raising serious concerns about national safety and regulatory breaches.
“These fertilisers are meant to be accessed only by authorised agencies or licensed users due to their potential misuse. Their presence in an unlicensed facility suggests gross negligence or criminal complicity,” Omokpariola stated.
Even more troubling, Iluyomade revealed that many of the recovered food-grade chemicals were originally sourced from a registered importer, but eventually landed in the hands of unregulated operators, implying a potential breakdown in the supply chain or insider collaboration.
NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to protecting public health, warning that any individual or company involved in the illegal trade of regulated products will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The agency also urged Nigerians to be vigilant and report suspicious food, drug, or chemical activities, as it intensifies its crackdown on counterfeit and unsafe products across the country.
