NAFDAC Seizes Over 10,000 Cartons Of Unregistered Tomato Paste, Cosmetics In Lagos

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated more than 10,000 cartons of unregistered tomato paste and cosmetic products at the Lagos Trade Fair Market.

Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, disclosed the development to journalists on Tuesday, August 12. He warned that deaths caused by substandard medicines, unsafe cosmetics, and contaminated foods surpass the fatalities recorded from Boko Haram attacks.

“We seized over 10,000 cartons of unregistered tomato paste, as well as cosmetics such as creams, soaps, body sprays, washes, air fresheners and toothpaste. We cannot guarantee the safety of these seized products because they have not undergone any regulatory scrutiny.

One way to safeguard public health is to remove harmful products from markets before they can kill unsuspecting Nigerians.

I can say authoritatively that deaths from substandard medicines, cosmetics and unsafe foods exceed the number of people killed by Boko Haram.

This is why the agency remains committed to ensuring Nigerians use only products that have passed regulatory processes, assuring safety and effectiveness.” he said

Iluyomade revealed that a newly inaugurated multi-agency task force would enhance NAFDAC’s nationwide surveillance against counterfeit medicines and unsafe processed foods. He noted that the agency’s ongoing partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service to tighten border control was already yielding significant results in curbing the influx of dangerous products into the country.

“We are working hard to prevent falsified and unregistered items from entering the country, hence our Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria Customs Service. The Nigeria Customs Service has handed over many seized fake products to us, and we have also transferred some to them,” he added