The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a stern warning to airlines, shipping companies, and logistics operators involved in the importation of counterfeit products into Nigeria, stating that they risk sanctions and possible prosecution. The agency declared that any platform used to distribute fake drugs and other unwholesome goods would face the full weight of the law.
Counterfeiters Exploit Modern Supply Chains
NAFDAC noted that counterfeiters are increasingly taking advantage of modern supply chains, online procurement platforms, and cargo consolidation systems to flood the country with fake medicines, cosmetics, beverages, and other regulated products. This trend poses serious risks to public health and safety, the agency warned.
Speaking during a briefing in Lagos to mark this year's Anti-Counterfeiting Month, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC, Martins Iluyomade, emphasized that airlines, shipping firms, and logistics companies that knowingly or negligently aid the movement of counterfeit products into the country would be held accountable under the law. He stated that the agency's actions are backed by the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Cap C.34, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004).
Sophisticated Counterfeiting Methods
Iluyomade disclosed that counterfeiters have become increasingly sophisticated, cloning popular and fast-moving products consumed in Nigeria and manufacturing them abroad, particularly in Asia. The packaging is designed to closely resemble genuine brands, making detection difficult. He added that some operators engage in local counterfeiting while importing packaging materials from China to give fake products an appearance of authenticity.
The growing use of e-commerce and online procurement systems has made it easier for individuals to order counterfeit products directly from foreign manufacturers without leaving Nigeria, Iluyomade explained. Counterfeiters also exploit cargo consolidation arrangements, known as groupage, where multiple importers share a single shipping container, making it harder for regulators to identify suspicious consignments.
Strategic Partnerships and Enhanced Monitoring
Speaking on efforts to curb the menace, Iluyomade said NAFDAC's strategic partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service has yielded positive results, although there is still room for improvement. He called for stricter monitoring of bonded terminals and Free Trade Zones, noting that regulatory loopholes within such facilities are often exploited by counterfeiters. The agency is also strengthening collaboration with security agencies and enhancing verification systems to enable manufacturers to confirm whether imported consignments genuinely originated from their facilities.
