According to NAFDAC, cosmetics, food, and beverages represent over 50% of counterfeit products confiscated in Nigeria.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General, shared this information during a briefing for the 2026 International Anti-Counterfeit Month, with Dr. Martins Iluyomade standing in for her. She indicated that this statistic is derived from nationwide enforcement seizures, highlighting that counterfeit medications with incorrect, insufficient, or nonexistent active ingredients are also frequently seized.
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NAFDAC identified cosmetics as the most frequently counterfeited products, followed closely by food and beverages, together comprising over half of all confiscated goods, with pharmaceuticals also contributing significantly to enforcement actions.
Adeyeye cautioned that counterfeiters are increasingly employing more advanced techniques. She remarked, “In Nigeria, cosmetics rank as the top counterfeited products, followed by food and beverages, which together account for over 50% of seizures.” She added, “No country can realistically monitor every package entering through such channels.”
She elaborated that criminals can now use online purchasing to import counterfeit products directly into Nigeria, alongside “groupage” cargo systems that complicate detection as multiple importers share containers. “Today, someone in a shop in Nigeria can easily place an online order and have counterfeit items delivered directly to them through logistics services,” she explained.
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Additionally, she noted that counterfeit packaging often closely resembles that of authentic brands, complicating identification.
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To combat this issue, NAFDAC is collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies to enhance regulations and improve product verification systems. Adeyeye emphasized that “NAFDAC cannot win this battle alone.”
The agency also commended the judiciary for quicker prosecutions, mentioning recent convictions including a notable 40-year prison sentence.
NAFDAC urged Nigerians to purchase from authorized outlets, verify products with authentication tools, and report any suspected counterfeits.
