In Abuja, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) conducted a raid on Sahad stores, a well-known supermarket, for the sale of counterfeit products
Aside from Sahad stores, NAFDAC also targeted H-Medix outlets in Wuse 2, Gwarinpa, 3rd Avenue, and Utako market within the FCT
Upon inspecting H-Medix, the agency seized imitation cosmetics, while fake medicines were confiscated from the Utako market
Embugushiki-Musa Godiya, the NAFDAC Head of Investigation and Enforcement/Federal Taskforce in the FCT, mentioned that the enforcement team also covered the Kugbo market in Nyanya and the Mararaba axis in Nasarawa State just two days prior
He informed reporters that the team also operated in Wuse Market the day after, where they confiscated goods worth millions, emphasizing that the three-day operation was based on intelligence gathered from concerned citizens
“We have successfully retrieved some of the counterfeit products for disposal. One such product falsely labeled as a NIVEA NAFDAC-regulated item is particularly troubling. It’s disheartening that these substandard NIVEA creams and other bogus cosmetics are more expensive than NAFDAC-approved ones, which is a criminal offense,” he stated
“The market value of the confiscated drug hawking products is estimated at N5 million, while the counterfeit NIVEA products, along with other cosmetics like Jik bleach, Harpic toilet cleaner, and Airwick room freshener, amount to N45 million,” he disclosed
He raised concerns about the potential health risks of using counterfeit products, highlighting possible risks such as cancer, kidney damage, and skin irritations
He urged those involved in such activities to cease their actions and emphasized that NAFDAC enforcement would uncover the syndicate behind the product imports
Stressing the agency’s firm stance on maintaining quality standards, he affirmed that anyone involved in illegal activities would be apprehended
He advised Nigerians to exercise caution when purchasing products, emphasizing the importance of checking for NAFDAC registration numbers before making a purchase