The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has ordered the closure of two Chinese-owned supermarkets situated in Abuja’s Jabi District.
In addition, the agency sealed off eight cosmetic retail outlets at Wuse Market due to breaches of Nigeria’s regulations on product sale, distribution, and labelling standards.
According to a statement released on Friday by Adegboyega Osiyemi, NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, the enforcement action was carried out under the directive of the agency’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye.
The operation resulted in the seizure and removal of substandard products valued at more than ₦170 million.
NAFDAC clarified that the supermarkets, located on Mike Akhigbe Way and Ebitu Ukiwe Street, were shut down after thorough investigations and consumer reports revealed the sale of unregistered food items labelled solely in Chinese. This practice violates Nigeria’s labelling laws, which mandate English translations for consumer clarity.
Despite initial resistance, NAFDAC officials confirmed that one of the supermarkets remained fully functional and stocked with unapproved merchandise.
Similarly, the eight cosmetic shops at Wuse Market were closed for dealing in prohibited, expired, and unregistered products, including aphrodisiacs and beauty enhancement medicines.
Further inquiries uncovered that some vendors were fraudulently presenting themselves as dermatologists and pharmacists, recommending dangerous products to customers under claims of skin lightening, body augmentation, and sexual enhancement.
Confiscated items included skin whitening gummies, aphrodisiac capsules, collagen supplements, herbal remedies, and other unregistered cosmetics known to pose serious health threats such as kidney failure, cognitive impairment, and skin cancer.
Professor Adeyeye reiterated NAFDAC’s dedication to safeguarding public health by eliminating harmful substances from the market and encouraged consumers to purchase only products officially registered with the agency.
She also urged foreign entrepreneurs and investors aiming to introduce products into the Nigerian market to obtain proper registration and comply with regulatory requirements through NAFDAC’s offices nationwide.