NAFDAC Uncovers Illegal Herbal Products Factory in Lagos, Seizes Unregistered Medicines
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered an illegal herbal products factory in Agege, Lagos State, where three unregistered products were allegedly manufactured under unhygienic conditions.
The agency also discovered that one of the products bore a NAFDAC registration number belonging to a registered cough syrup.
The facility was uncovered on Thursday, October 22, following intelligence received by the agency on October 16 concerning the alleged production of Aishetu Adams Bitters with a fake NAFDAC registration number.
Speaking with journalists, the Deputy Director in charge of the Pharmaceutical Division, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, NAFDAC, Pharm. Edith Joseph, said surveillance and intelligence gathering led officials to the facility concealed inside a residential building.
“What we found was shocking. The facility was in a very poor and unhygienic condition. Look at the water they use for production and the environment where the manufacturing takes place. The products are manufactured outdoors, in the open air. I can tell you that this facility is not approved by NAFDAC,” Joseph said.
The products recovered from the facility were identified as Ashietu Adams Herbal Mixture for sexually transmitted diseases, Ashietu Adams Blood Purifier and another herbal preparation purportedly used to treat high blood pressure.
Joseph said none of the three products was registered with NAFDAC, adding that the registration number displayed on the blood purifier belonged to a different product.
“The number belongs to another registered product, which is a cough syrup. They simply copied the number and placed it on their product to deceive Nigerians,” she said.
She disclosed that the agency had sealed the facility pending further investigation and taken the recovered products to its office.
According to Joseph, a man identified as Sayidu, who reportedly claimed to have worked with Adams for about a year, told officials that he assisted in managing the business, particularly when Adams travelled.
The manager reportedly identified Adams as a Ghanaian woman and told investigators that she had travelled to Ghana.
NAFDAC said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the operation and determine the whereabouts of the alleged owner.
Joseph warned Nigerians against relying solely on registration numbers when purchasing herbal medicines and other regulated products, noting that counterfeiters could copy legitimate numbers to make unregistered products appear approved.
She advised consumers to verify product details through NAFDAC’s online verification platforms and its Greenbook.
“If the name displayed does not match the product being presented, consumers should know that something is wrong,” she said.
She also urged consumers, particularly those in rural communities with limited internet access, to visit the nearest NAFDAC office for assistance in verifying products before purchasing or consuming them.
Also speaking, NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Mrs Christiana Obiazikwor, called for greater public participation in the fight against counterfeit and unregistered products.
Obiazikwor warned landlords and property owners against allowing their premises to be used for illegal manufacturing activities, stressing that those found to be facilitating such operations could face prosecution.
She urged property owners to monitor activities on their premises and report suspicious operations to the appropriate authorities.
“We cannot fight this battle alone. Every Nigerian has a role to play in identifying and reporting places where illegal manufacturing activities are taking place,” she said.
