By Opeyemi Adelakun
Nigerians are increasingly exposed to potentially life-threatening health risks as counterfeit medicines, adulterated food products and contaminated beverages find their way into the marketplace, raising concerns about the safety of everyday consumer purchases.
What appears to be an ordinary tablet for treating malaria, a bottle of drink purchased from a neighbourhood shop or cooking oil bearing a familiar brand name could expose unsuspecting consumers to dangerous substances capable of damaging vital organs.
Health professionals warn that the consequences go beyond failed treatment, with exposure to certain counterfeit and substandard products potentially resulting in kidney and liver damage, prolonged illnesses, disability and death.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) reportedly destroyed unsafe, falsified and non-compliant regulated products worth ₦22.73 billion between January and August 2026.
The figure highlights the scale of the challenge facing regulators and the dangers confronting consumers in a market where counterfeiters increasingly exploit established brands and distribution channels.
When treatment becomes a threat
For patients battling common illnesses, counterfeit medicines can turn the search for recovery into another health crisis.
Dr Amarachukwu Enahoro, a medical doctor and public health physician at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), said fake medicines could fail to treat the conditions for which they were purchased while introducing substances capable of damaging the kidneys and liver.
She explained that the health consequences depended on the composition of the counterfeit product.
According to her, damage to these organs could lead to loss of function, disability and a reduced quality of life.
The danger is particularly concerning for patients who rely on antimalarial drugs and antibiotics to treat infections.
In February 2026, NAFDAC reportedly seized more than 10 million doses of counterfeit malaria medicines and cosmetic products valued at approximately ₦3 billion during an operation at Trade Fair Market in Lagos.
The operation reportedly resulted in the removal of eight truckloads of products and the arrest of four suspects.
Another warning emerged in April 2025, when the agency alerted Nigerians to counterfeit Aflotin 20/120 antimalarial tablets circulating under the name of a genuine product.
Fake brands, hidden dangers
The problem is not restricted to medicines.
Counterfeiters have also been accused of adulterating food products, drinks and cooking oils, exposing consumers to substances that may not be disclosed on product labels.
In January 2026, NAFDAC reportedly uncovered an alleged operation at Oke-Arin Market, Idumota, Lagos, where palm oil was mixed with colouring agents and packaged as Goya Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
The incident demonstrated how consumers could be deceived through familiar product names and packaging.
Dr Ope Osunyomi, a public health expert, Financial Secretary of the Medical Guild and medical officer of health with the Lagos State Government, warned that harmful substances in counterfeit products could cause serious damage to vital organs.
He said the effects could include organ failure, depending on the substances consumed.
Reports of illnesses and deaths associated with suspected contaminated beverages in parts of the country have also reinforced concerns about the safety of products sold in informal and poorly monitored markets.
The hidden cost of cheap products
The growing circulation of counterfeit products is also placing additional financial pressure on households.
With many Nigerians struggling to cope with rising living costs, cheaper medicines and consumer goods can appear attractive, particularly when the alternatives are expensive.
However, Dr Adefunke Ronnie Adeniyi, a public health physician at LUTH, warned that consumers could end up spending more when substandard medicines fail to treat their illnesses.
She explained that patients might require additional medical consultations, laboratory investigations, alternative medications and hospital admissions.
Adeniyi noted that the financial consequences could be particularly severe for low-income households, which might have to redirect money meant for basic necessities towards emergency healthcare.
She cautioned that consumers should not be blamed entirely for patronising cheaper products, as poverty and limited access to affordable quality medicines could influence purchasing decisions.
She also identified the complex supply chain as a major challenge, noting that counterfeit products could enter the market through different stages of production, importation, distribution and retail.
A threat to the healthcare system
Beyond the immediate health consequences, counterfeit medicines could undermine efforts to control infectious diseases.
Dr Adewale Oladipo, a medical practitioner and public health physician, warned that medicines containing inadequate active ingredients could contribute to antimicrobial resistance.
He explained that when antibiotics failed to eliminate disease-causing organisms, resistant microorganisms could survive and spread, making infections increasingly difficult and expensive to treat.
Oladipo described the circulation of fake medicines as a serious public health threat, warning that patients could suffer prolonged illnesses, complications and, in severe cases, death.
He urged Nigerians to avoid self-medication, purchase medicines from reputable licensed outlets and seek professional medical advice when treatment failed or unusual reactions occurred.
Why enforcement must go further
Although NAFDAC’s seizures and destruction exercises demonstrate regulatory activity, health experts believe a more comprehensive strategy is required to address the problem.
Osunyomi called for stronger regulatory institutions, particularly NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, to improve surveillance and identify locations where counterfeit products are manufactured and distributed.
Adeniyi advocated more frequent inspections, laboratory testing and effective monitoring of physical and online distribution channels.
She also called for manufacturers and distributors to strengthen quality-control systems and healthcare professionals to report suspected falsified medicines.
Public education remains equally important.
Consumers are advised to buy medicines from licensed pharmacies and reputable outlets, check product details and report suspicious products to regulatory authorities.
However, experts warn that counterfeiters can reproduce legitimate registration numbers and packaging, meaning visual checks alone may not establish whether a product is genuine.
Osunyomi urged community leaders, religious organisations, market associations and individuals to take responsibility for identifying and reporting suspicious commercial activities.
For millions of Nigerians, the challenge is increasingly about more than the price of everyday goods. It is about knowing whether the medicine they swallow, the food they eat and the drink they consume are safe.
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