The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been urged to promptly address the disturbing menace of counterfeit products circulating Nigerian markets.
There have been growing concerns in recent times over the surge in fake products being sold to consumers, especially food and drinks which pose unimaginable danger to health.
The call was triggered when an X user, @Aimalohi6 shared a post on the different versions of a product being sold to unsuspecting consumers in supermarkets.
“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, good stores are selling the fakes. No idea where to get the original.
“Aside from drinks, ingredients used in cooking can kill us. @NafdacAgency please and please do the needful, AMOY is AMOY no s, c or i. It’s not only drinks you go after, please go after these brands😤😤 AMOY is AMOY help the food industry. @capanigeria,” @Aimalohi6 wrote.
The tweet gained a lot of traction. Many consumers attested to the reality of buying and consuming fake products. Others displayed photos of different brands with their counterfeit and original versions.
Netizens took it upon themselves to tag NAFDAC to commence investigations into the disturbing trend to fish out perpetrators.
“It’s time for NAFDAC and SON to rise to the occasion and sanitise our consumption space!
We are dying needless deaths because of these fake products!” @enodamade wrote.
What is NAFDAC Doing?
Although NAFDAC is yet to respond to the urgent call by Netizens, the Agency has been actively waging war against counterfeiters for a long time, yet counterfeit products have continued to permeate the markets.
Just last week, NAFDAC closed down a counterfeit production site where a variety of beverages including wines, soft drinks, and other consumables were being produced in Eziukwu market, also known as Cemetery market in Aba, Abia State.
In a statement on Monday, NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye said the counterfeiters have been operating for years, and no one dared challenge them.
The DG said the perpetrators were producing counterfeit products of different brands right there before NAFDAC raided them.
“Over 1500 cartons of the fake and substandard products were destroyed during the operation while 300 cartons were evacuated to NAFDAC warehouse.
“The street value of the confiscated and destroyed fake products is estimated at over seven hundred and fifty million naira only. (N750,000,000). Ten people were arrested on arrival at the scene of the crime and will be charged to court after a thorough investigation,” she said.
Adeyeye also advised the public to exercise caution when buying products in the market. She urged consumers to always scrutinise products before buying them.