NAFDAC’s recent crackdown on counterfeit wine factories and other products in Abia State has triggered a wave of criticism from Nigerians on social media, particularly on X platform.
Users are expressing concerns about the apparent lapse in oversight by NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) and SON (Standards Organisation of Nigeria), questioning how the proliferation of fake products reached such alarming levels.
Queries have been raised regarding the effectiveness of NAFDAC’s monitoring mechanisms and the factors that allowed the issue to escalate to its current extent. Some users are conducting personal inspections of their homes, noting the absence of NAFDAC registration numbers on products. This revelation has heightened consumer awareness about the prevalence of substandard goods in the market.
Here are some reactions from social media:
Dr Babatunde: “It’s time for NAFDAC and SON to rise up to the occasion and sanitize our consumption space! We are dying needless deaths because of these fake products!”
Nana Aba: “NAFDAC needs to try harder. If they need the assistance of the public, they should make statements and tell us how we can help. We can’t continue like this.”
@GeekyAdams: “One thing is certain though, someone in NAFDAC isn’t doing their job and needs to be arrested. Because how can an important database like this not be updated regularly?”
Lami Apejoye: “Jokes apart, this is a national emergency, and if we are serious, the heads of NAFDAC and SON should be summoned to the Villa immediately, but yea, probably not happening.”
Demola of Lagos: “We have Customs, NAFDAC, SON, FCCPC. All these public funds-guzzling agencies, yet the markets are widely saturated with adulterated and fake consumer products. A clusterfuck!”
Ore: “The gag is that all these products have NAFDAC numbers. Whether those are real is even another issue. You hate to see it.”
@Oluwafunmi: “It is very safe to say that NAFDAC is not doing their job. Everything is literally fake in Nigeria, and no one is controlling or holding anyone accountable.”
Theo Abu: “NAFDAC Number should be digitalized. I should be able to check the authenticity of a product/Brand from the comfort of my home.”
@fisayoade_: “From skincare to food products to lifestyle products, nothing is held sacred in this country. What is NAFDAC doing?”
In a recent development, NAFDAC took action to close down several markets suspected of trading in adulterated beverages in Abia State, apprehending 10 suspects. The affected markets were sealed pending the outcome of a thorough investigation. The director of NAFDAC’s South-East Zone, Martins Iluyomade, disclosed that the suspects, operating within the Cemetery market and occupying over 240 shops, were engaged in the production and sale of products compromised by unsafe ingredients and unsanitary manufacturing practices. Iluyomade raised alarm about the potential health hazards during the yuletide season, emphasizing the risks posed by these unscrupulous practices. Despite law enforcement efforts, the illicit trade in counterfeit beverages continues to pose a significant challenge in the Nigerian market.
