By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives has directed its relevant committees to investigate the circulation of counterfeit, adulterated and substandard food and beverages in Nigeria, amid concerns over the growing threat to public health.
The directive followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Public Procurement, Hon. Makki Yalleman, during plenary on Tuesday.
The House mandated the joint Committees on Health, Industry, Customs, Standards and Consumer Protection to engage relevant regulatory agencies, assess the scale of the problem and evaluate existing enforcement measures, with a report expected within four weeks.
Lawmakers expressed concern that unscrupulous manufacturers and distributors were allegedly counterfeiting established brands, falsifying product labels and expiry dates, using contaminated raw materials and illegally refilling containers to deceive unsuspecting consumers.
They warned that such practices could expose Nigerians to food poisoning, cancer, organ damage and other life-threatening health complications.
To highlight the severity of the problem, the House cited the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control’s dismantling of an illegal counterfeit alcohol syndicate at Zamfara Plaza on Lagos Island on April 22, 2026.
It also referenced the discovery of an illegal, unregistered fruit juice factory in Barakali, Lagos State, by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on September 22, 2026, describing the incidents as evidence of the need for stronger surveillance and enforcement.
Contributing to the debate, the Chairman, House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Hon. Ahmed Satome, called for coordinated national surveillance and stronger regulatory measures to curb the production and distribution of unsafe food, beverages and other consumer products.
Satome warned that the circulation of counterfeit goods in markets, shops, supermarkets, restaurants and other distribution channels posed significant risks to public health, consumer protection and national security.
He urged lawmakers and regulatory authorities to move beyond routine inspections by embracing preventive measures, inter-agency collaboration and technology-driven monitoring systems to improve the detection of unsafe products entering and circulating within the country.
Also contributing, Hon. Ibe Osonwa called on regulatory authorities to strengthen enforcement and ensure the effective operation of the Green Book, a digital product authentication system designed to provide information on manufacturers and enable consumers to verify the authenticity of products.
Osonwa expressed concern that the system was reportedly not functioning effectively, undermining efforts to protect consumers from counterfeit goods.
He cited reports of unsafe products, including infant formula, adulterated water, toothpaste, vegetable oil and sanitary products, noting that the problem extended beyond food and beverages to other essential consumer goods.
