The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has detected & busted a large cache of prohibited and counterfeit cosmetic products worth more than ₦3 billion in Lagos State. The discovery was made during routine enforcement checks at an uncompleted structure within the APT Trade Fair Complex in Ojo.
According to the agency, the seizure ranks among its most substantial in recent times. Officials found hundreds of cartons of banned skin-lightening soaps and medicated products, including Crusader soap, E45 soap, and Extract Gold whitening soap, all of which have been outlawed by the Federal Government due to health concerns. Other goods such as perfumes, body oils, and cooking oils were also confiscated pending further regulatory review. The products have since been removed from the site to prevent circulation, and the warehouse supervisor has been summoned for questioning. NAFDAC cautioned consumers about the dangers of using unapproved cosmetic items and encouraged the public to report suspicious activities.
In a related development, the agency has also sealed 18 storage facilities in Bida, Niger State, after uncovering large volumes of expired food and beverage products valued at over ₦100 million. Acting on intelligence, enforcement officers shut down warehouses located near Ndazabo White House along Minna Road and behind Bida Modern Market. The operation led to the discovery of tens of thousands of expired non-alcoholic drinks, dairy products, bottled water, pasta, and other consumables, some already packaged for sale.
Warehouse operators were detained for investigation, and preliminary findings connected the facilities to a company known as BY Ventures. The firm’s Managing Director, Yusuf Nadabo, reportedly acknowledged ownership of the expired goods during questioning.
