The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday shut down two Chinese-owned supermarkets and eight cosmetics shops in Abuja for violating Nigeria's food and drug safety regulations.
The supermarkets, located on Mike Akhigbe Way and Ebitu Ukiwe Street in Jabi District, were found selling unregistered food products labelled exclusively in Chinese -- a direct breach of NAFDAC's requirement that all regulated goods carry English translations for the Nigerian market.
According to a statement by NAFDAC's Deputy Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Adegboyega Osiyemi, the enforcement followed credible consumer complaints and surveillance by its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, working in collaboration with the Federal Taskforce on Counterfeit and Substandard Medicines and Unwholesome Processed Foods.
The raid was led by Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer, Mr. Musa Embugushiki. At one of the targeted outlets in Jabi, a foreign national initially denied that the shop was operational. However, NAFDAC enforcement officers confirmed that unregistered products were being sold on the premises.
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In a related crackdown, eight cosmetics shops in Wuse Market were sealed for marketing banned, expired, and unregistered products -- including aphrodisiacs and aesthetic medicines. The agency said some traders had gone as far as impersonating dermatologists and pharmacists to prescribe harmful substances for body enhancement, skin whitening, and male sexual performance.
Among the confiscated items were Wenicks Capsules, Maxman Capsules, Boobs Enlargement supplements, Curvy Weight Gain products, Skin Whitening Gummies, Collagen, Royal Jelly, Glutathione Whitening Gummies, White Doll, Dr. Gallery Plus, Maiz Zaki Syrup, and several other unapproved herbal mixtures.
The seized goods, valued at over ₦170 million, were evacuated from the market.
NAFDAC's Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the move was necessary to protect Nigerians from dangerous chemicals linked to severe health risks.
She explained: "We welcome legitimate trade partnerships from both Nigerians and foreign nationals, but we will not compromise on public health. Any act of selling unregistered or toxic products shall be met with strict regulatory action."
Prof. Adeyeye warned that many of the confiscated substances had been linked to kidney damage, skin cancer, memory loss, and irritability, stressing the importance of only purchasing NAFDAC-registered products.
She also issued a strong reminder to international traders: "We welcome legitimate trade partnerships from both Nigerians and foreign nationals, but we will not compromise on public health. Any act of selling unregistered or toxic products shall be met with strict regulatory action."
The agency urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious outlets or products to NAFDAC offices nationwide.