NAFDAC Says It Has No Direct Oversight Over Unbranded Palm Oil, Fufu Sold in Open Markets
_DG Adeyeye urges Nigerians to report counterfeiters officially, says lab tests needed before calling products fake_
*Abuja* - The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, says it does not have direct and absolute regulatory oversight over unbranded staple foods such as palm oil, fufu and other items sold in open markets across Nigeria.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known on Monday while briefing journalists in Abuja on the agency’s efforts to tackle suspected counterfeit, adulterated and unsafe products.
According to her, NAFDAC’s core mandate covers processed and packaged products, and includes inspection, sampling, laboratory testing, compliance monitoring, post-market surveillance, complaint investigation, product verification, recalls and enforcement.
“Counterfeiters are not ghosts; they exist within our communities, neighbourhoods, and business premises,” Adeyeye said.
She revealed that the agency received *225 complaints* about suspected counterfeit products in August alone, and gets *more than 200 complaints monthly* from Nigerians through its reporting channels.
The NAFDAC boss acknowledged growing public concerns over allegedly adulterated or unsafe products, including *yoghurt, palm oil, apples, soy sauce, olive oil, chicken, fish, water and beverages* - many of which have gone viral on social media in recent weeks.
However, she stressed that social media claims alone cannot confirm that a product is unsafe or counterfeit.
“Proper scientific evaluation, laboratory testing and regulatory investigation are necessary before such conclusions can be reached,” she said.
Adeyeye urged Nigerians to report suspected counterfeiters through NAFDAC’s official channels instead of relying solely on claims circulating online.
The clarification comes amid rising anxiety among consumers over food safety, as videos and posts alleging fake and contaminated food items continue to spread across social media platforms.