The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a major illegal operation in the Alapere area of Ketu, Lagos, involving fake chemicals, expired food flavours, fertilisers, and repackaged raw materials.
The raid, which took place on Tuesday, followed an intelligence tip-off and led to the arrest of three suspects and the sealing of three warehouses linked to the operation.
Speaking to journalists, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, described the network as a serious threat to public health.
“Some individuals disguised their criminal operation under the façade of a legitimate business, endangering the lives of Nigerians by distributing expired and unregulated substances,” he said.
Iluyomade noted that many of the chemicals recovered were expired precursors and food-grade additives, some of which are used in consumable goods.
“When such chemicals expire, the risk of toxicity and ineffectiveness rises sharply, and that poses a grave health risk,” he warned.
He also revealed that fertilisers discovered on-site are products that legally require clearance from the Office of the National Security Adviser, but were being sold without restriction.
“The presence of such sensitive materials in the open market is deeply concerning,” Iluyomade added.
Even more troubling, NAFDAC discovered expired food-grade products originally imported by a registered company in Nigeria, but now in the possession of an unauthorized third party.
“This raises concerns about how some multinational companies manage the disposal of expired products,” he said, adding that an investigation into these companies would be initiated.
According to Iluyomade, the total value of the materials found across the three warehouses is estimated at over ₦1 billion.
The Director of Chemical Evaluation and Control, Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, also disclosed that strictly controlled items recovered included caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), urea fertiliser, propylene glycol (used in pharmaceuticals), and metronidazole benzoate, an active pharmaceutical ingredient.
“Several expired flavourings such as roasted chicken, roasted beef, tiger nut, and Chinook flavours were also found,” Omokpariola stated.
He added that the suspect had been producing fake packaging materials with altered expiry dates—some relabelled as valid till 2026—and passing them off as imports from China.
Products were also marked with fake “QC certified” labels, suggesting they had passed quality control.
NAFDAC has ordered the suspect to report immediately to its Investigation and Enforcement Unit in Apapa, Lagos, warning that failure to comply will attract severe penalties.
The agency said investigations are ongoing and vowed that all individuals and corporate entities linked to the illicit trade would be held accountable.