‘NAFDAC should wake up’ — shock, outrage over fake products in circulation

In the last 24 hours, Nigerians have taken to social media to share their experience with fake products and called for actions from the regulatory bodies.

Over the weekend, officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) cracked down on fake wine factories in Abia state, shutting down several illegal markets suspected of selling adulterated beverages.

In a statement on Monday, Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC director-general, said after an intelligence tip-off, the agency discovered that the “dastard activity has been going on for a long time and they operate like a cartel threatening anyone who dares challenge them”.

From fake drinks, drugs, cooking sauce, beverages to alcohols, the list is endless.

While some X users said NAFDAC did a great job in the past, some called on the agency to step up their regulation of products.

“Since Dora Akunyili left us alone in this evil world, we’ve been eating and drinking fake products. That woman looked out for us for real. Top 5 Nigerian to ever exist,” Imoh Umoren, a Nollywood film director, shared his view on X.

Below are reactions from X.

NAFDAC was one of the organisations I studied for my PhD between 2009 and 2012.

I had the privilege of interviewing the late, great, Prof Dora Akunyili. I remember the interview as if it happened yesterday because I interviewed her at home and she insisted on cooking breakfast…

— Dr Joe Abah (@DrJoeAbah) December 19, 2023

Late Dora Akunyili former head of NAFDAC who fought against fake drugs and products speaking on how to make Nigeria 🇳🇬 better.

She fought big companies and cartel and ended up losing her life for a better Nigeria 🇳🇬

Rest on legend 🕊️

pic.twitter.com/Tp0vubGsKh

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— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) December 19, 2023

Jokes apart, this is a national emergency, and if we are serious, the heads of NAFDAC and SON should be summoned to the Villa immediately, but yea, probably not happening. 🤷🏽‍♀️

— ‘Lami Apejoye (@MsLami_A) December 18, 2023

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Just checked my milk, FAKEEEEE 😭

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When I search the Nafdac number at the back… Not found

Olopa ma ko everybody pic.twitter.com/7XCg6kcAty

— عبد الحكيم 💮 𝕏 (@GeekyAdams) December 18, 2023

The main reason fake products are widespread in Nigeria is because NAFDAC is largely a toothless dog.

In fact, many NAFDAC officials are in cahoots with manufacturers of fake products.

— Nicholas ‘The Brave’ Ibekwe (@nicholasibekwe) December 18, 2023

NDLEA, NAFDAC, and SON should all be under General Buba Marwa 🥲

— Adamu Hayatu® (@AHayatu) December 19, 2023

NAFDAC can’t keep up with this… No government agency can, even if all their staff were incorruptible and above being bribed..
There needs to be a solid whistleblowing strategy that activates citizens policing..
Anything else is not going to work to stop these murderers. https://t.co/UVvzdE57pa

— David Abdulrazak Atta (@the_davidatta) December 18, 2023

Immediate Rejig of NAFDAC & SON higher echelon will be of great benefit to Nigerians. The FG should do the needful to save the country from Fake products

— UNCLE DEJI™️ (@DejiAdesogan) December 19, 2023

By the time we eventually realize how badly infested Nigerian markets are with adulterated and repackaged expired products, there’ll be nothing left for us to consume.

For a clearer perspective, just start counting the number of years from when Dora Akunyili left NAFDAC.

Yup!

— Demola Of Lagos 𓃵 (@OmoGbajaBiamila) December 18, 2023

Since Dora Akunyili left us alone in this evil world, we’ve been eating and drinking fake products Cuz. That woman looked out for us for real. Top 5 Nigerian to ever exist

— Imoh (@imohumoren) December 18, 2023

NAFDAC Number should be digitalized.

I should be able to check the authenticity of a product/Brand from the comfort of my home.

— Thεό Abu (@TheoAbuAgada) December 18, 2023

This NAFDAC director’s energy is too low for an agency as critical as this. NAFDAC is clearly not doing enough. The agency is too laid back and that can only be attributed to the leadership of the agency.

— Steve M. Ozoba (@Donsteve0106) December 18, 2023

NAFDAC should wake up. That’s just a tip of the iceberg. What’s happening across the country is frightening. Fake products, especially drugs abound. Unfortunately the agency has been sleeping and enjoying the cozy office environment while citizens are at the mercy of criminals…

— Sunny Angel (@Pauly2570) December 18, 2023

NAFDAC should wake up. That’s just a tip of the iceberg. What’s happening across the country is frightening. Fake products, especially drugs abound. Unfortunately the agency has been sleeping and enjoying the cozy office environment while citizens are at the mercy of criminals…

— Sunny Angel (@Pauly2570) December 18, 2023

Dear President Tinubu,

Please! NAFDAC @NafdacAgency needs more enhancement and upgrade. It needs to be more revered than even efcc. Because there’s a deliberate attempt to poison and destroy every single citizens in Nigeria by selling fake products.

They are committing…

— Ainà Dipo 🇳🇬 (@dipoaina1) December 19, 2023

We are humorous about a lot of things here
But the fake or counterfeit products are scary.
Why would people do this for gain?
Why aren’t NAFDAC doing something about it?
Imagine the health complications or death?
Please be careful out there.
Watch what you eat or drink.

— Stilo (@AyoStiloOniGAPS) December 19, 2023

NAFDAC should be dismantle and government should form another organization that’ll tackle this madness of fake production. https://t.co/nL3uVADwLS

— CUBA🇵🇸 (@abubakr_cuba) December 19, 2023

FAKE PRODUCTS

𝑭𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒂…

40% of all drinks, wine, alcohol, packaged food, electrical parts, phone chargers, spare parts, drugs like paracetamol and postinor, engine oil, bottled water etc. are all fake products manufactured in place like Aba and Onistha.… pic.twitter.com/TAFEzrTr0G

— CitizenOlu (@jagabanolu) December 19, 2023

Consuming fake products and getting sick, only to treat yourself with fake drugs is one hell of a ride.

Are you recovering or dying slowly?

— Sir Dickson (@Wizarab10) December 19, 2023

Everyone need to be careful with these fake products now. See what i found inside soy sauce just now. Watch till the end 🤮🤮😭 https://t.co/VNqyMUQkMi pic.twitter.com/QLMHPPPtnM

— Lola Okunrin (@lollypeezle) December 18, 2023

Avoid processed food.

You think, I’m doing this for myself.

Fake products everywhere.

Imagine that the original is bad for you, come to think of fake. pic.twitter.com/pi7HqhL8hb

— Doctor Of The Future™ (@g_diets_) December 19, 2023

“Chimex” Pharmacy is selling Dorex instead of @DurexNG😩

I think it’s time we hit the streets on a nationwide protest, since Mr President is turning a blind eye to the deliberate genocidal coordinated attacks on our market products across the country.

Until we all die before… pic.twitter.com/dJtR55arU8

— Ainà Dipo 🇳🇬 (@dipoaina1) December 19, 2023

Somebody get me off the floor pic.twitter.com/cpN0EaPEm2

— Onion Cider (@abbietayo) December 18, 2023

Warning Warning Warning!!!
These two sachets of Peak milk look so identical and impossible to differentiate, unfortunately one is fake and the other is original. The only way you can identify the original is at the back in the thick blue line carrying both NAFDAC reg number Na… pic.twitter.com/ttj3lLl1d9

— Aisha Muhammad Tukur (@Ayshatuuuuuu) December 19, 2023

Brands should be all out educating/sensitizing the public about how to identify their products.

Drugs’ brand always do this in their advert even to be the point of sending a code to a number for confirmation.

There is a surge against fake products now. Take advantage 🙏

— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) December 19, 2023

Watch how Chinese people are producing Fake MILO and they will send the fake products to Africa 💔😭😭

This people are evil and heartless pic.twitter.com/CCJe35LjKq

— Nwa ❤️ (@Nwaadaz) December 19, 2023

Fake Fanta, Fake Pepsi, Postinor 2, Nivea, Hennessy, Fake Condom.. Nigerians should watch out 😢. RIP to fmr. NAFDAC Boss Prof. Dora Akunyili and good job to the current guys 👏 pic.twitter.com/LBWztVl8IN

— Communicator (@__communicator_) December 19, 2023

AMOY sauce

I’m reading about the Amoy sauce debacle and it appears the people wey dey fake am dey give order via phone.

I have never see such naming variation for one fake brand.

AMOYI, AMOYS, AMQY, AMOY’C etc

Activate Wike’s voice

Fake! Fake!! All Fake! pic.twitter.com/VSxGnTjmhR

— Oo Nwoye (@OoTheNigerian) December 18, 2023

New discovery there is AMOY, AMOYS, AMOI, AMQY, AMOY’c oyster sauce, sesame oil, and soy sauce brands in Nigeria. The original brand is AMOY without the s. Every other brand is fake… – @Aimalohi6 pic.twitter.com/H8rVk0RRY7

— GIDI (@Gidi_Traffic) December 18, 2023

You people even have AMOY, ours is AMQY

We are in trouble 🥲🥲 pic.twitter.com/4wPAtBx1Xg

— David Abu _ (@DavidAbu_) December 18, 2023

Entered supermarket to see AMOY for myself 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/qMs6op77a9

— Dami’ Adenuga (@DAMIADENUGA) December 19, 2023

People managing their fake Amoy tonight, despite discovering they got sold a fake product pic.twitter.com/FVzVowtQbt

— Lidocaine🔆 (@trending_medic) December 18, 2023

Nawa oo ,seeing the fake product trend,only for me to check my kitchen and see I have the fake Amoy too😭 #NAFDAC Please look into this @NafdacAgency #fakeproducts pic.twitter.com/Ovn7QgMqmt

— AVala (@lookingforAvala) December 19, 2023

An X user, @SandraGee among the tweets of fake Amoy shared a photo of what the original sauce looks like.

This is how original Amoy looks like 🙊 pic.twitter.com/MSRyxWpILS

— Ewy baby ✨ (@SandraGee_) December 18, 2023

So I have been speaking with my friend in NAFDAC. Apparently, The soy sauces and different types of sardine aren’t fake, they are mostly dupes. Some are even registered.

— Ayobami (@dondekojo) December 19, 2023