The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed an illegal herbal medicine factory in Agege, Lagos, and arrested its manager, warning that landlords could face prosecution if their properties are used for unauthorised manufacturing of regulated products.
The agency also called for stiffer penalties against manufacturers and distributors of counterfeit and unregistered products, citing the potential risks such substances pose to public health.
Deputy Director of Public Relations at NAFDAC, Mrs Christiana Obiazikwor, disclosed this during an inspection of the facility on Thursday, October 22, following intelligence reports about the production of unregistered herbal remedies.
Obiazikwor urged property owners to monitor activities on their premises and report suspicious operations, stressing that landlords could be prosecuted if found to be facilitating illegal manufacturing.
“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.
Deputy Director of the Pharmaceutical Division, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Pharmacist Edith Joseph, said surveillance operations led investigators to the residential building, where three unregistered products were discovered.
The products included Ashietu Adams Herbal Mixture for sexually transmitted diseases, Ashietu Adams Blood Purifier and a preparation purportedly intended for treating high blood pressure.
Joseph said the products were allegedly manufactured under unhygienic conditions without the required regulatory approval.
She also disclosed that one of the products carried a registration number belonging to a registered cough syrup, which she said was copied to mislead consumers.
“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.
Following the discovery, NAFDAC evacuated the products, sealed the premises and arrested the facility manager, Abulaziz Sayidu, for questioning.
The alleged owner of the products, Ashietu Adams, was reportedly absent during the operation, while investigations continued to establish her whereabouts and determine the circumstances surrounding the production.
Joseph cautioned consumers against relying solely on registration numbers displayed on product packaging, advising them to verify the authenticity of medicines through NAFDAC’s online platforms, its Greenbook database or the agency’s nearest office.
Obiazikwor identified the absence of manufacturers’ addresses and batch numbers as potential warning signs, explaining that such information is essential for identifying products and tracing them when necessary.
She said the agency was strengthening public awareness campaigns through radio programmes, multilingual jingles and community sensitisation initiatives, including its NAFDAC and Your Health programme.
The agency urged Nigerians to report suspected illegal manufacturing facilities and avoid unregistered products, warning that counterfeit and improperly manufactured medicines could expose consumers to serious health complications.
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