REPS URGE FG TO CRACK DOWN ON FAKE, SUBSTANDARD FOOD, DRINKS IN NIGERIA
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By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to strengthen efforts to combat the production, distribution and sale of fake, adulterated and substandard food and beverages across Nigeria, warning that the practice poses significant threats to public health.
The lawmakers made the call during Tuesday’s plenary following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Abubakar Yalleman, who represents Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.
Presenting the motion, Yalleman stressed that access to safe and quality food and beverages was essential to the health, well-being and productivity of Nigerians.
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He noted that proper food processing methods and hygiene practices were necessary to prevent foodborne diseases caused by harmful bacteria, chemical residues, expired ingredients and physical contaminants.
The lawmaker added that adherence to food safety standards would enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian food businesses in regional and international markets by reducing the rejection of exported products and supporting economic growth.
However, he expressed concern over the increasing production of counterfeit alcoholic beverages and the discovery of illegal food and drink manufacturing facilities across the country.
Yalleman cited the dismantling of illegal alcohol counterfeiting operations at Zamfara Plaza on Lagos Island by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on April 22, 2026, as well as the September 22, 2026, raid on an unregistered fruit juice factory in Badagry, Lagos State, by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
He warned that the growing circulation of fake, adulterated, unregistered and substandard food products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, bottled water and other consumables was exposing Nigerians to serious health risks.
According to him, some unscrupulous manufacturers and distributors counterfeit established brands, manipulate product labels and expiry dates, use contaminated or inferior raw materials, illegally refill containers and produce food and beverages without complying with approved regulatory standards.
He cautioned that these practices could result in life-threatening conditions, including acute poisoning, cancer and damage to vital organs such as the kidneys, lungs, liver and heart.
The lawmaker identified NAFDAC, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) as key agencies responsible for regulating products, enforcing standards and protecting consumers.
Although he acknowledged the efforts of the agencies, Yalleman said concerns remained over the sale of products bearing misleading information about their production and expiry dates, batch numbers, ingredients and manufacturers.
The All Progressives Congress lawmaker maintained that existing laws provided a framework for addressing unsafe products but stressed the need for stronger enforcement, improved coordination among regulatory agencies, enhanced market surveillance and increased public awareness.
He also warned that children, older persons and other vulnerable groups were particularly at risk of foodborne illnesses, poisoning and other preventable health complications arising from the consumption of counterfeit products.
“The House is disturbed that with the presence of NAFDAC, SON, FCCPC, the Police, NSCDC, the increasing circulation of fake and substandard food and drinks is a very disturbing development which calls for more legislative and executive actions,” he said.
Yalleman called for more effective and coordinated surveillance, inspections, enforcement and timely prosecution across the food and beverage supply chain to eliminate counterfeit and substandard products.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the Federal Government to treat the production and circulation of fake, adulterated and substandard food and beverages as an urgent national concern requiring sustained regulatory intervention.
The lawmakers also called on NAFDAC, SON and FCCPC to collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, state governments and other relevant agencies to intensify nationwide surveillance, inspections, product sampling, laboratory testing and enforcement operations targeting manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers involved in the trade.
Additionally, the House mandated its relevant committees, particularly those on Health, Industry, Customs, Standards and Consumer Protection, to engage regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to assess the extent of the problem and evaluate the effectiveness of existing enforcement measures.
The committees are expected to submit their findings to the House within four weeks to guide further legislative action aimed at curbing the circulation of fake, counterfeit and substandard food, beverages and drugs.
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