The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered an illegal herbal products manufacturing facility in Agege, Lagos State, where unregistered products were allegedly produced using a falsified registration number belonging to an approved cough syrup.
The agency said the discovery followed an investigation into a report published by The Guardian on October 10 concerning herbal products carrying suspected fake NAFDAC registration numbers.
According to NAFDAC, its investigative team conducted surveillance before identifying the facility, which was concealed within a residential building. Officers discovered three variants of Asheitu Adams Bitters bearing registration number A7-1827L.
The agency said verification through its National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Automated Products Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS) showed that the registration number belonged to Greentol Cough Syrup, confirming its fraudulent use on the herbal products.
During an inspection on Thursday, October 22, Edith Joseph, deputy director of the Pharmaceutical Division in NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, said the facility operated without regulatory approval and lacked adequate hygiene standards.
Joseph identified three products recovered from the premises: Asheitu Adams Herbal Mixture for sexually transmitted diseases, Asheitu Adams Blood Purifier and another product claimed to treat high blood pressure. She said none of the products was registered with NAFDAC.
The agency said the facility’s manager, Abulaziz Sayidu, was arrested for questioning, while the alleged owner, Ashietu Adams, was absent during the operation. Sayidu reportedly told investigators that Adams had travelled to Ghana.
NAFDAC also said the products’ packaging lacked the manufacturer’s name, a verifiable address and batch numbers, making it difficult to establish their origin and traceability. The products were evacuated, and the facility was sealed pending further investigation.
Joseph warned that the products could pose health risks because their ingredients, manufacturing processes and safety had not been verified by the agency.
She urged consumers not to rely solely on registration numbers printed on product packaging, advising them to confirm that the number corresponds to the product through NAFDAC’s online verification platforms and Greenbook.
Consumers without internet access can seek assistance at the nearest NAFDAC office, she said.
Also speaking during the inspection, Christiana Obiazikwor, NAFDAC’s deputy director of public relations, called for greater public participation in efforts to combat counterfeit and unregistered products.
She said the agency was expanding public education through radio programmes, multilingual jingles and community outreach to help Nigerians identify suspicious products and report illegal manufacturing activities.
Obiazikwor also warned property owners against allowing their premises to be used for illegal production, noting that those found to have aided criminal activities could face prosecution.
NAFDAC urged members of the public to report suspected illegal manufacturing activities through its call centres on 0800-1-623322 or 0700-1-623322, or by email at sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.
The investigation into the facility, the products and the whereabouts of the alleged owner was ongoing as of Thursday, October 22.
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