The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday said it uncovered an illegal factory producing counterfeit “Goya oil” and dismantled a major syndicate involved in the production of fake alcoholic beverages in Lagos, warning that the activities pose serious public health risks.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Lagos, Mr. Martins Iluyomade, Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC and Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Substandard Products, said the discoveries followed intensified surveillance and enforcement operations in recent weeks.
Iluyomade stated that operatives uncovered an illegal operation inside Oke-Arin Market where counterfeit Goya oil was being produced. He explained that the fake product was made locally by burning palm oil and adding chlorine, using improvised equipment such as stoves, before being bottled and repackaged.
“The original Goya oil is imported into this country through a reputable company, and there are still original products in circulation,” Iluyomade said, urging Nigerians to be aware that genuine Goya oil is only sold in glass bottles and not in plastic containers.
He warned churches, prayer houses and consumers generally against using products labelled as Goya oil in plastic (PET) bottles, saying such fake products can be dangerous to health and should be reported to the nearest NAFDAC office for action.
Iluyomade also disclosed that the agency had uncovered and broken up a significant syndicate producing counterfeit alcoholic drinks. He said a suspect, Mr. Moses Nelson, was arrested in the Badagry area of Lagos and charged to court in connection with the illegal operation, which involved the production and distribution of fake brands across major markets in the state.
“In his house, we found all manner of fake products virtually every major brand,” Iluyomade said, noting that the syndicate operated a distribution network supplying counterfeit alcoholic beverages to various locations in Lagos.
The enforcement director warned distributors and consumers to avoid sourcing products from unauthorised suppliers and cautioned that unusually low prices may indicate counterfeit goods that could endanger health. He urged Nigerians to report suspicious products or sellers to help curb the spread of substandard and harmful goods.
Iluyomade said NAFDAC’s strategy prioritises stopping production at its source to prevent fake products from entering the market while protecting unsuspecting traders and consumers from legal consequences. He affirmed that the agency will sustain enforcement actions nationwide to safeguard public health.
The operations in Lagos reflect broader regulatory efforts by NAFDAC to target counterfeit and substandard products marketed across Nigeria, amid growing concerns about the health impacts of adulterated foods, oils and alcoholic beverages.
