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NAFDAC Seals Chinese Supermarkets and Cosmetics Shops in Abuja Over Sale of Unregistered and Harmful Products.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed two Chinese-owned supermarkets in the Jabi District of Abuja and eight cosmetics outlets at Wuse Market for gross violations of Nigerian laws regulating the sale, distribution, and labelling of consumer products.

The enforcement exercise, which took place this week, was disclosed in a press release issued on Friday by the Deputy Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Adegboyega Osiyemi. According to the agency, the operation was carried out under the directive of the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who has consistently warned against the circulation of unregistered and potentially dangerous products in Nigeria.

The statement confirmed that NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, working alongside members of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Substandard Medicines and Unwholesome Processed Foods, seized and evacuated offending products worth more than ₦170 million. The operation was led by Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer, Musa Embugushiki.

Supermarkets Sealed for Flouting Labelling and Registration Rules: The two Chinese supermarkets, located on Mike Akhigbe Way and Ebitu Ukiwe Street in Jabi, were sealed after NAFDAC operatives, acting on consumer complaints and surveillance reports, discovered that the stores were selling unregistered food items and other products labelled entirely in Chinese.

This contravenes Nigeria’s regulatory policy, which requires that all products marketed within the country carry English-language labelling for proper consumer understanding and regulatory scrutiny.

Interestingly, one of the supermarkets initially denied it was in operation, but NAFDAC officials confirmed active sales of the unregistered products upon inspection, further reinforcing the agency’s concerns about deliberate non-compliance.

Cosmetics Shops Caught Selling Banned and Harmful Substances; In a parallel raid, NAFDAC shut down eight cosmetics shops at Wuse Market, Abuja’s largest open market. Investigations revealed that these outlets were selling banned, expired, and unregistered cosmetics, aphrodisiacs, and aesthetic drugs, many of which pose serious health risks.

More disturbingly, NAFDAC uncovered that some of the shop operators were posing as dermatologists and pharmacists, illegally prescribing and dispensing products to unsuspecting customers. These products were being marketed as remedies for skin whitening, body enhancement, sexual performance, and general beauty improvement, but many contain harmful substances.

Among the confiscated items were Wenicks Capsules, Maxman Capsules, Boobs Enlargement products, Curvy Weight Gain supplements, Skin Whitening Gummies, Collagen tablets, Royal Jelly, Glutathione Whitening Gummies, White Doll, Dr. Gallery Plus, Maiz Zaki Syrup, Original Herbal Yellow Fever treatment, Sickle Cell “medicines,” Dr. Nafisa Herbal products, Dynewell Syrup, White Blinks, and several others.

Public Health Risks and NAFDAC’s Warning; Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Director-General, emphasized that the agency’s mandate is to protect Nigerians from dangerous chemicals and toxic substances often found in unregulated and counterfeit products. She noted that some of the seized items have been linked to serious health complications, including:

• Skin cancer

• Kidney and liver damage

• Neurological disorders such as irritability and memory loss

She reiterated that NAFDAC will not compromise on its enforcement role and warned consumers to avoid products not certified by the agency.

Advisory to Consumers and Foreign Investors; In its closing remarks, NAFDAC urged Nigerians to buy only products duly registered with the agency to safeguard their health and wellbeing. The agency also sent a strong message to foreign nationals and investors, advising them to seek proper regulatory guidance and complete the required product registration processes before introducing goods into the Nigerian market.

“NAFDAC hereby reaffirms its commitment to enforcing compliance with Nigerian regulations and protecting public health. Foreign nationals and investors intending to import or market products in Nigeria are strongly advised to visit NAFDAC offices nationwide for registration and guidance,” the statement read.

The sealing of the supermarkets and cosmetics shops in Abuja highlights NAFDAC’s ongoing battle against counterfeit, unregistered, and harmful products in Nigeria’s markets. With over ₦170 million worth of goods confiscated, the enforcement operation sends a clear signal that the agency is intensifying efforts to safeguard consumers from products that endanger public health. This bold step is expected to deter future offenders while reassuring Nigerians that NAFDAC remains vigilant in its duty to protect lives against the dangers of substandard foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.