NAFDAC Shuts Down Chinese Supermarkets, Cosmetics Shops Over Unregistered and Toxic Products

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed two Chinese-owned supermarkets in the Jabi District and eight cosmetics shops in Wuse Market, Abuja, for selling unregistered, banned, and potentially harmful products.

The enforcement followed surveillance operations triggered by consumer complaints. The affected supermarkets, located on Mike Akhigbe Way and Ebitu Ukiwe Street, were found selling food items labelled solely in Chinese violating NAFDAC’s labelling regulations that mandate English translations for all products sold in Nigeria.

Similarly, NAFDAC officials closed down eight cosmetics shops in the bustling Wuse Market. The shops were found to be selling banned, expired, and unregistered cosmetics, aphrodisiacs, and aesthetic medicines. Alarmingly, some individuals at these outlets were impersonating dermatologists and pharmacists, illegally prescribing dangerous products to unsuspecting customers.

Confiscated items, valued at over ₦170 million, included: Wenicks Capsules, Maxman Capsules, Boobs Enlargement Products, Curvy Weight Gain Supplements, Skin Whitening Vitamin Gummies, Collagen and Royal Jelly, Glutathione Whitening Gummies, White Doll, Dr. Gallery Plus, and White Blinks, Maiz Zaki Syrup, Original Herbal Yellow Fever Medicine, Sickle Cell Medicine, Dr. Nafisa Herbal Medicine, Dynewell Syrup, among others.

Many of these products are linked to severe health risks such as kidney damage, skin cancer, hormonal disruption, and neurological disorders.

Speaking, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, condemned the illegal activities and reiterated the agency’s resolve to protect public health.

“The sale of unregistered and toxic products will not be tolerated. We will continue to apply strict sanctions against violators,” she stated.

Prof. Adeyeye also issued a strong advisory to foreign nationals and business owners intending to market regulated products in Nigeria, urging them to undergo proper product registration and regulatory compliance through NAFDAC.

The agency confirmed that further investigations are ongoing, and violators will be prosecuted in accordance with Nigerian law.