Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered expired and toxic chemicals worth over N1 billion during a sting operation at Folarin Olawale Cole Close at Alapere-Ketu area of Lagos.
The agency described the seizure as one of the largest and
most dangerous in recent years, saying they posed serious threats to public
health and national security.
Speaking after the raid, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation
and Enforcement and Chairman, Federal Task Force on Fake and Substandard
Products, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, said the raid was a massive and unprecedented
discovery.
According to Iluyomade, the three warehouses raided were
stocked with prohibited, expired, and highly toxic chemicals, many of which
were meant for food and pharmaceutical use.
“What we saw here is shocking. All expired. Some marked ‘Not for Sale.’ These
are chemicals that should only be in government custody, not in the hands of
private individuals,” he stated.
Iluyomade noted that chemicals of this nature in the wrong
hands could fuel insecurity.
“Chemicals in the wrong hands are dangerous. They can be
used to make bombs or other dangerous items. This is not just a public health
issue, it is a national security threat,” he averred.
He further explained that NAFDAC is expanding its
enforcement efforts to include raw materials, not just finished products.
“If you use the wrong raw materials, the finished product is
already wrong. We are taking a holistic approach from production inputs to
final products to protect Nigerians,” he said.
“This case is mind-boggling. One person owns all three
warehouses and several outlets. He is not just selling expired chemicals, he is
supplying others. It’s a supply chain of danger,” Iluyomade added.
He, however, pledged that the agency would pursue everyone
connected to the illegal operation.
“This is just the beginning. We will ensure this serves as a
deterrent to others poisoning the public for profit.”
NAFDAC’s Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Dr.
Leonardo Omopariola, revealed that the operation was initiated after the agency
received anonymous intelligence.
“We launched an internal investigation based on a tip-off.
Once we confirmed the location, we moved in swiftly this morning,” he
said. He described the conditions inside the warehouses and the
environment as a disaster zone.
Omopariola expressed concern that some of the expired substances were
food-grade chemicals.
“These are chemicals used in producing what people eat. Once
expired, their composition is altered, and what they’re manufacturing is no
longer food. It’s poison,” he stated.
He added that some items found were marked as donations and
not for sale.
“There were boxes labelled ‘Donated – Not for Sale.’ How did
they end up here? Someone is diverting products meant to help the public,” he
said.
He put the economic value of the seized items between
N700million and N1 billion.
“And they’re all expired. That tells you the magnitude of
this operation,” he said.
He said that some of the substances, including caustic soda
are controlled chemicals.
“You need NAFDAC approval to store or distribute these. This
individual has no such permit from us. The fact that everything is expired
suggests they were illegally sourced.”
Two suspects were also arrested in connection with the
seizures as
Omopariola vowed that the agency would track down every
individual involved.
NAFDAC also called on the public to assist the agency in
curbing such criminal acts,
“We have a whistleblower policy. If you suspect anyone is
selling expired or hazardous products, report to us.
“You don’t have to give your name. Your identity will be
protected, and there’s even a reward. This is about saving lives and
safeguarding our environment,” Omopariola said.
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