The discoveries followed weeks of targeted surveillance and enforcement operations carried out by NAFDAC officials in key commercial areas of the state. According to the agency, the scale and sophistication of the operations point to an organised network that has been flooding markets with dangerous, substandard products.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC and Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Substandard Products, Mr. Martins Iluyomade, said the agency decided to brief the public after uncovering practices that posed serious risks to lives.
One of the most disturbing findings was an illegal production site hidden within Oke-Arin market, where counterfeit Goya oil was being locally manufactured. Iluyomade explained that while authentic Goya oil is legitimately imported into Nigeria by an authorised company and remains available in the market, unscrupulous individuals had set up an operation to imitate the product.
Investigations revealed that the fake oil was produced using crude and unsafe methods, including burning palm oil and adding chlorine, with basic equipment such as household stoves. Large quantities of empty bottles were also found on site, indicating systematic refilling and repackaging for distribution.
NAFDAC warned that these fake products were being deliberately passed off as genuine, particularly to religious institutions and unsuspecting consumers. Iluyomade stressed that authentic Goya oil is never packaged in plastic (PET) bottles, noting that the original product is sold exclusively in glass containers. He urged Nigerians to immediately report any Goya oil sold in plastic bottles to the nearest NAFDAC office.
The agency expressed particular concern about the growing use of counterfeit anointing oils in churches and prayer houses, describing the trend as both widespread and dangerous. According to NAFDAC, some consumers even ingest these substances, unaware that they may contain toxic chemicals rather than harmless oil.
In outlining NAFDAC’s enforcement approach, Iluyomade said the focus is on shutting down production sources rather than punishing traders who may unknowingly sell fake products. He explained that stopping production would naturally cut off supply and eventually eliminate the counterfeit goods from circulation, while those directly responsible for manufacturing would face the full weight of the law.
Religious bodies were also called upon to cooperate with regulators by refusing to allow the sale or use of unverified products within their premises, as NAFDAC seeks to avoid enforcement actions that could disrupt worship centres.
Beyond edible oil, the agency also announced the bust of a major counterfeit alcohol operation in Lagos. NAFDAC described the falsification of alcoholic drinks as one of the most prevalent forms of counterfeiting in the country, largely because it is easy to replicate popular brands.
A suspect, identified as Mr. Moses Nelson, was arrested in the Badagry area of Lagos and has since been charged to court. A search of his residence reportedly uncovered large quantities of fake alcoholic beverages spanning nearly all major brands. Investigators believe the syndicate produced the drinks in Badagry and distributed them to key markets across the state.
NAFDAC warned distributors and retailers against sourcing products from unauthorised suppliers, stressing that profit-seeking at the expense of consumer safety amounts to knowingly endangering lives. The agency also advised consumers to be cautious of unusually cheap products, noting that drastic price reductions are often a red flag for counterfeiting.
Iluyomade appealed to those involved in such illegal activities to desist, emphasising that economic hardship does not justify actions that compromise public health. He reiterated that no individual has the right to enrich themselves by increasing the health burden of the country.
NAFDAC assured Nigerians that enforcement operations would continue nationwide and urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid counterfeit products, and promptly report suspicious activities to help protect lives and maintain confidence in regulated goods.