The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered an illegal herbal product manufacturing facility in Agege, Lagos, where three unregistered products were allegedly produced under unhygienic conditions, with one bearing a counterfeit registration number belonging to a registered cough syrup.
The discovery, according to the agency, exposed consumers to potential health risks and highlighted the dangers posed by the production and circulation of unregistered herbal medicines in the country.
Deputy Director, Pharmaceutical Division, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC, Pharmacist Edith Joseph, disclosed this on Thursday, October 22, during an inspection of the facility.
Joseph said the agency received intelligence on October 16 concerning the production of a herbal product identified as Aishetu Adams Bitters, which was allegedly being marketed with a fake NAFDAC registration number.
She explained that officers conducted surveillance and intelligence gathering before locating the facility, which was concealed within a residential building.
According to her, the team discovered that the products were manufactured in an unhygienic environment without regulatory approval, adequate sanitation or proper identification of the manufacturer.
“What we found was shocking. The facility was in a very poor and unhygienic condition. Look at the water they use for production and the environment where the manufacturing takes place. The products are manufactured outdoors, in the open air. I can tell you that this facility is not approved by NAFDAC,” she said.
Joseph identified the products recovered from the facility as Ashietu Adams Herbal Mixture for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), Ashietu Adams Blood Purifier and another herbal product claimed to be used for high blood pressure.
She stressed that none of the products was registered with NAFDAC, adding that the registration number displayed on the blood purifier belonged to an entirely different product—a registered cough syrup.
“They simply copied the number and placed it on their product to deceive Nigerians,” she said.
The deputy director disclosed that NAFDAC had evacuated the products during its initial operation and sealed the facility pending further investigation.
She added that the facility manager, Abulaziz Sayidu, had been arrested for questioning, while the alleged owner of the operation, Ashietu Adams, was reportedly at large.
According to Joseph, Sayidu claimed that Adams, whom he identified as a Ghanaian woman, had travelled to Ghana. The agency, she said, was investigating the circumstances surrounding the operation and working to establish the whereabouts of the alleged owner.
Joseph further noted that although the product packaging indicated Ghana as the country of origin, it lacked the manufacturer’s name and a verifiable address to establish where the products were manufactured.
She warned Nigerians against assuming that a product was safe simply because it displayed a NAFDAC registration number, urging consumers to verify product details through the agency’s online verification platforms and the NAFDAC Greenbook.
The official explained that the verification tools could help consumers determine whether a registration number genuinely belonged to the product being presented.
“If the name displayed does not match the product being presented, consumers should know that something is wrong,” she cautioned.
She advised consumers in rural communities and areas with limited internet access to visit the nearest NAFDAC office for assistance in verifying products before purchasing or consuming them.
Joseph also urged Nigerians to avoid products without valid registration details, the manufacturer’s name, a verifiable address and other essential identifying information.
She reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to intensifying surveillance and enforcement operations to identify and dismantle illegal manufacturing facilities across the country.
Also speaking during the inspection, NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Mrs Christiana Obiazikwor, called for greater public participation in the fight against counterfeit and unregistered products.
Obiazikwor warned landlords and property owners against allowing their buildings to be used for illegal manufacturing activities, stressing that those found to be aiding such operations could face prosecution.
She said NAFDAC was strengthening public awareness through radio programmes, multilingual jingles and community sensitisation campaigns designed to reach Nigerians, particularly those in rural and grassroots communities.
She identified the agency’s NAFDAC and Your Health programme as one of the initiatives aimed at educating the public about the dangers of fake and unregistered products.
According to her, the agency also conducts sensitisation programmes in local government areas, churches and schools to educate residents on identifying suspicious products and reporting illegal manufacturing activities.
Obiazikwor urged consumers to examine product details beyond registration numbers, including the manufacturer’s address, batch number and other information necessary for product identification and traceability.
“These products do not have batch numbers or the manufacturer’s address. These are important details that help establish the identity and traceability of a product,” she said.
She added that the agency was working towards ensuring stiffer penalties for offences involving the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit and unregistered products.
The public relations director also urged property owners to monitor activities taking place in their buildings and report suspicious operations to the relevant authorities.
She assured Nigerians that reports of suspected illegal manufacturing activities would be handled discreetly, emphasising that public cooperation was essential to tackling the circulation of fake and unregistered products.
“We cannot fight this battle alone. Every Nigerian has a role to play in identifying and reporting places where illegal manufacturing activities are taking place,” she said.
Meanwhile, the facility manager, Sayidu, told officials during questioning that he assisted Adams in managing the business, particularly when she travelled.
He said he had worked with Adams for approximately one year and identified Ajetu Adams Vitals, Ajetu Adams STD and Ajetu Adams Blood Purifier as products associated with the business.
However, he did not provide further details about the manufacturing process or the products’ regulatory status during the interview.
NAFDAC said investigations into the illegal facility and the whereabouts of the alleged owner were ongoing as of Thursday, October 22.
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