Precious Nwonu, Enugu

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to strengthen enforcement against the production and sale of counterfeit, adulterated and substandard food and beverages, warning that the practice threatens public health.

The lawmakers made the call during Tuesday’s plenary after adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Abubakar Yalleman, who represents Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.

Presenting the motion, Yalleman said access to safe and quality food was essential to Nigerians’ health, well-being and productivity.

He stressed that proper food processing, hygiene and compliance with established safety standards were necessary to prevent illnesses caused by harmful bacteria, chemical residues, expired ingredients and other contaminants.

The lawmaker also noted that effective food safety regulations would improve the competitiveness of Nigerian products in regional and international markets by reducing the rejection of exports.

Yalleman, however, expressed concern over the growing circulation of fake food and drinks, citing the dismantling of an illegal alcohol counterfeiting operation at Zamfara Plaza on Lagos Island by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on April 22, 2026.

He also referenced the September 22, 2026, raid by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on an unregistered fruit juice factory in Badagry, Lagos State.

According to him, some manufacturers and distributors engage in counterfeiting established brands, falsifying product labels and expiry dates, using contaminated raw materials and illegally reusing containers.

He warned that these practices could expose consumers to serious health complications, including poisoning, cancer and damage to vital organs such as the kidneys, liver, lungs and heart.

The lawmaker acknowledged the regulatory responsibilities of NAFDAC, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), but said the continued circulation of products bearing misleading information showed the need for stronger enforcement.

He called for improved coordination among regulatory agencies, more effective market surveillance, stricter inspections and the timely prosecution of offenders.

Yalleman also warned that children, older people and other vulnerable groups could face greater risks from consuming contaminated or substandard products.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the Federal Government to treat the production and distribution of fake and adulterated food and beverages as a matter of urgent national importance.

It called on NAFDAC, SON and FCCPC to work with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, state governments and other relevant bodies to intensify nationwide surveillance, product sampling, laboratory testing and enforcement operations.

The proposed crackdown is expected to cover manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers involved in the production and sale of counterfeit or substandard food and drinks.

The House also mandated its relevant committees, particularly those responsible for health, industry, customs, standards and consumer protection, to engage regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to assess the scale of the problem and the effectiveness of existing enforcement measures.

The committees are expected to submit their findings to the House within four weeks to guide further legislative action aimed at curbing the circulation of fake and substandard food, beverages and drugs.