By Paul Joseph
The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to intensify the crackdown on the production, distribution and sale of fake, adulterated and substandard food and beverages across Nigeria, warning that the practice poses serious risks to public health.
Key Highlights
- Reps urge FG to intensify crackdown on fake, adulterated and substandard food and beverages.
- The motion was sponsored by Rep. Abubakar Yalleman (Madori/Kaugama, Jigawa).
- He cited NAFDAC’s April raid on an alcohol counterfeiting syndicate in Lagos and an NSCDC raid on a fake juice factory in Badagry.
- NAFDAC, SON and FCCPC urged to work with police, Customs and states on nationwide enforcement.
- House committees to report back within four weeks.
The House made the call during plenary on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Rep. Abubakar Yalleman, who represents Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.
Moving the motion, Yalleman stressed that access to safe and quality food and beverages is essential to the health, well-being and productivity of Nigerians.
He said proper processing methods, hygienic production practices and compliance with established food safety standards were necessary to prevent foodborne diseases caused by harmful bacteria, chemical residues, expired ingredients and physical contaminants.
The lawmaker added that enforcing food safety regulations would improve the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses in regional and international markets by reducing the rejection of exported products and supporting economic growth.
Counterfeit Drinks, Illegal Factories
However, he expressed concern over the increasing discovery of counterfeit alcoholic beverages and illegal food and drink production facilities.
Yalleman cited the dismantling of an alcohol counterfeiting syndicate at Zamfara Plaza on Lagos Island by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on April 22, 2026.
He also referenced the September 22, 2026, raid by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on an illegal, unregistered fruit juice factory in Badagry, Lagos State.
According to him, such incidents highlighted the growing circulation of fake, adulterated, unregistered and substandard food products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, bottled water and other consumables.
He warned that some manufacturers and distributors counterfeit established brands, alter product labels and expiry dates, use contaminated or inferior raw materials, illegally reuse containers and operate outside approved regulatory standards.
The lawmaker said these practices could expose consumers to severe health complications, including acute poisoning, cancer and damage to vital organs such as the kidneys, liver, lungs and heart.
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Role Of Regulators
Yalleman noted that NAFDAC is responsible for regulating food, bottled water and other products under its mandate, while the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) oversees consumer protection and product safety.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) also plays a key role in ensuring products comply with applicable standards.
While acknowledging the efforts of the agencies, he said concerns remain over products carrying misleading information about their production and expiry dates, batch numbers, manufacturers and ingredients.
He called for stronger enforcement of existing laws, improved coordination among regulatory bodies, more effective market surveillance and increased public awareness of food safety.
Yalleman also warned that children, older people and other vulnerable groups faced particular risks from unsafe food and beverages.
He said the continued circulation of counterfeit products despite the presence of regulatory and security agencies required additional legislative and executive action.
The lawmaker advocated more coordinated inspections, surveillance, enforcement and timely prosecution of offenders throughout the food and beverage supply chain.
House Resolutions
Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the federal government to treat the production and circulation of fake, adulterated, counterfeit and substandard food and beverages as a matter of urgent national importance.
It called on NAFDAC, SON and FCCPC to work with the police, Nigeria Customs Service, state governments and other relevant agencies to intensify nationwide surveillance, inspections, product sampling, laboratory testing and enforcement operations.
The proposed crackdown is expected to cover manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers involved in producing or selling unsafe and counterfeit products.
The House also mandated its relevant committees, particularly those responsible for health, industry, customs, standards and consumer protection, to engage regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to assess the scale of the problem and the effectiveness of existing enforcement measures.
The committees are expected to report their findings to the House within four weeks for further legislative action, including possible measures to address the circulation of fake, counterfeit and substandard food, beverages and drugs.
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