Many Nigerians have raised the alarm at the rate at which counterfeit products have saturated the markets in recent times.
As consumers shop for the festivities, the merchants of death, who clone and fake genuine products for inordinate gains, have taken over the shelves of trusted shopping malls and local stores, putting unsuspecting consumers at risk.
Last Sunday, social media was awash when an X user cautioned Christmas shoppers to be wary of a particular brand of stir fry sauce, which had over 11 variations.
The sauce, which is said to be made in China, originally known as Amoy, had been faked to Amoy’s, Amqy, Amuy, Amiy, Amoys, Anoy, and several other substandard variations with different flavours and packaging.
On that thread, several other Nigerians identified how the brand of wine, Four Cousins, had been faked into ‘Four Brothers’, ‘Nice Brothers’, and many others. The popular Eva fruit wine has also been faked into three other variants.
The Pepsi-Cola brand, Pepsi, has been faked to Popsi. Popular toothpaste brand, Close Up, has a parody variant, Open Up, with the same brand logo and catchphrase.
Stapes like rice, palm oil and vegetable oil are not spared as several consumers complain that several substandard versions have now flooded the market.
A Lagos-based mother-of-two, Mrs Adebisi Sobowale, said she was shocked when she opened a bottle of a popular brand of palm oil and saw a whitish substance on top.
When used to cook, she said she perceived a foul smell and a foamy concentration that settled on top of the food being prepared.
“The taste is not like palm oil. It tastes like paw-paw mixed with palm oil or something like that. I had to throw my big pot of ogbono soup away because of the bad oil,” she lamented.
Another woman, who runs a catering brand, but did not want her name in print, said even popular rice brands had been taken over by counterfeiters.
She said, “I now double-check any product I buy because one cannot be too careful. We see a lot of mess every day in this business but there is nothing we can do about it.
“That was how I bought two 50 litres kegs of bad vegetable oil. It was made with pig fat, I later learnt after my investigation. It has got so bad.”
Another Lagos resident and a father of two, Sola Simon, said after his shopping, he noticed that he had bought some fake soaps and toiletries.
“The packaging of the soaps was different. I went online to check and found out that the one I got was made in Ivory Coast or so, but the brand is based in Nigeria. The one I bought had NAFDAC number of some sort, but I know that these things are cloned,” he added.
His wife, Peju, said she bought a bottle of a popular beverage in traffic and on tasting it knew that it was fake.
She stated, “I have tasted a lot of Coke to know a fake one when I taste it. The gas was too much. It was too sugary and the cork was not well covered. I just knew something was wrong.
“Even the chocolate I used to get for my children has also been faked because I noticed that whenever they take them to school, they come down with diarrhoea.”
A young man in his 20s, who did not want to be named, told one of our correspondents that he had fallen victim as he bought three packs of fake condoms a week ago.
He stated, “I knew it (condom) was a fake. It was too greasy when I wore it; it broke before I even started any action. I tried on the second one and the feeling was the same. When I checked after I was done, I saw that the brand I bought was not the original one. It had no seal, no NAFDAC number, no manufacturing or expiry date, nothing. I went back to the pharmacy I got it from, and they traced it and found out that the entire batch had been compromised.
“It was later found out that the suppliers changed his source and somehow the goods were exchanged for substandard ones. I was refunded but you can imagine the many people who would have fallen victims.”
Fake pharmaceuticals
Many Nigerians also complained that the potency of some of their popular over-the-counter medications had reduced, alleging that most of them might have been compromised.
A registered nurse, who identified herself only as Mrs Mary, told one of our correspondents that she noticed that a batch of syringes brought to her department was fake.
“I raised the alarm and it was recalled. The supplier was involved and he was saying what we did not understand. We have taken him to the authorities. We don’t want to make a lot of noise so we don’t alarm the public, but the situation is getting worse by the day, and the health sector is not spared,” she stated.
The nurse also asked Nigerians to always check the packs of the medications they buy for things as tiny as a wrong inscription, packaging, or error of any kind to identify the oddities.
National problem
Fake products have become a national problem and have continued to generate concerns as some desperate Nigerians are profiting from the sale of potentially dangerous products.
A report by the ‘Organised Crime: West African Response to Trafficking,’ a project of the Economic Community of West African States, said illicit and counterfeit medical products from China and India were taking over the drug markets in Nigeria, Ghana, Benin Republic, Togo, Guinea and other countries in the sub-region.
The OCWAR-T observed that the illegal drugs were often shipped from Guangzhou in China and cleared through the ports in Apapa, Tema, Cotonou, and Conakry, using intermediaries.
Experts have also noted that Nigeria’s healthcare system is under renewed attack due to the growing prevalence of fake and substandard products.
They identify weak regulations and enforcement as reasons for why the menace has thrived for so long.
The experts, however, called on the government at all levels to urgently reinvigorate strategies to protect the people from the scourge of counterfeit products.
The World Health Organisation has continued to reiterate that substandard and falsified medical products may cause harm to patients and fail to treat the diseases for which they are intended.
They lead to a loss of confidence in medicines, healthcare providers, and health systems.
NAFDAC enforcement
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control revealed that counterfeit versions of Seaman Schnapps, Hennessey, Four Cousins, Carlo Rossi, Jenney, Chelsea London Dry Gin, Schnapp Dry Gin, McDowells, Black Labels, Gordons, Martell, Campari, Smirnoff Ice, Eva non-alcoholic drink, Evra non-alcoholic drink, and Cartel are among products intercepted in Eziukwu Market (Cemetery Market) Aba, Abia State.
The agency also said there was a date revalidation for expired products like Peak milk, several brands of powdered milk, ketchup, yogurt, Coca-Cola products, and packaging of fake and substandard products, which were later sold to unsuspecting members of the public for consumption.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, told Sunday PUNCH that the activities of the counterfeiters in the Aba market had been going on for a long time as they operated like a cartel and threatened anyone who dared to challenge them.
She stated, “Because of the extensive operation, the agency raided over 240 shops-turned-factories where the harmful products were being produced and marketed.
“The shops-turned factories are very filthy, using water from very unhygienic sources, harmful chemicals, saccharin, colouring, dirty recycled bottles, and cloned packaging materials of other brands.
“The adulteration of alcoholic beverages by criminal elements in the country is done by mixing cheaper sources of sugar and starch besides grapes or fruit, among other harmful chemicals unsuitable for human consumption.
“Over 1,500 cartons of fake and substandard products were destroyed during the operation, while 300 cartons were evacuated to the NAFDAC warehouse.”
The NAFDAC boss added that the street value of the confiscated and destroyed fake products was estimated at over N750m.
She also disclosed that 10 persons were arrested at the scene of the crime and would be charged to court after a thorough investigation.
“Due to the sheer magnitude of illegality going on in the section of the market, NAFDAC had to shut the entire market down for thorough regulatory activity until an agreement was reached with all stakeholders in the market and an undertaken signed that the market would never be used for such nefarious activities anymore,” Adeyeye added.
The Director, South-East Zone, NAFDAC, who led the operation on the Cemetery Market, Mr Martin Iluyomade, told one of our correspondents that the agency did some investigation before busting the place.
He said, “For several years, they colonised that section of the market, where there was not a lot of trading. Those shops, numbering over 240, were used as manufacturing plants.
Each shop acted as a factory. Each factory was churning out counterfeited products. They used the power of collective efforts to clone these real products and push them out into the market.
“For over 10 years, no security agency, NAFDAC officials and others were able to enter that zone. They collaborated with the market executives, who were there at that time, and some security officials.
“When these counterfeiters hear that NAFDAC is coming, they simply close their shops or even resist the officials. I remember when we tried to enter the section three years ago, we heard gunshots. The work we do is a very risky one.
“That point became a place where most fake products are linked to the market, but cannot be investigated beyond there.
“The videos that are going around and are being discussed are the tip of the iceberg. One of the stakeholders got on the scene when we were carrying out our enforcement and fainted when he saw the magnitude of what was going on there. The place has been dismantled and sanitised.”
N21.29bn destroyed
Data obtained from the investigation and enforcement team of NAFDAC showed that no fewer than 1,125 drug stores selling unregistered products were sealed off in 2022 and so far this year across the country.
The data also revealed that 62 factories storing substandard goods were sealed off in the two years under review.
A total of 108 warehouses storing substandard goods were shut, and 412 persons carrying out dangerous activities were arrested during this period.
The agency revealed that the street value of products that were destroyed in two years was N21,159,950,352.80.
Despite these efforts, many substandard products still find their way to the shelves in major markets.
Supermarkets protest innocence
Some major supermarket representatives, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, stated that they did not know how the fake products got onto their shelves.
A marketing executive at a popular superstore, who did not want to be named, said sometimes the faults came from suppliers.
“We have some trusted suppliers, who buy directly from the factories of the manufacturers, but these things can be breached. If we identify a breached batch, we recall the products,” she said.
A marketing manager at a foreign-owned superstore with branches across Nigeria said there was a recent situation with a foreign brand at one of the branches, which almost made her lose her job.
“We buy directly from the factories but these people sometimes know how to cut corners. We just cannot be too careful. So, what we do is notify the companies themselves and issue out batch numbers known just to us and the companies. So, when the products are supplied without those batch numbers, we know who to hold responsible,” the source noted.
She added that no known supermarket that had built a name for itself would intentionally stock substandard products.
“It is still Nigerians who complain that the products we sell in our supermarkets are too expensive, adding that they can get them from the open market at cheaper rates,” the marketing manager added.
Death looms – Doctors
Medical experts, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, stated that the continuous consumption of fake products, especially food and drugs, had enormous dangerous implications for consumers, including death.
A public health physician and Chief Executive Officer of TalkHealth9ja, Dr Laz Eze, told one of our correspondents that fake products were harmful to the health, the economy and potentially harmful to the environment.
He stated, “Counterfeit drugs cannot cure a disease, but they can lead to complications and death. They may harm body organs and can cause liver and kidney failure, among others.
“Fake antibiotics are a major cause of antimicrobial resistance, which is a growing public health problem of global concern.”
To tackle the menace of fake products in the country, Eze said there must be effective surveillance to identify product fakers.
He also said there was a need to punish offenders severely under the law, provide counselling and value reorientation as part of the correctional services, and empower them to contribute positively to the economy.
The NAFDAC DG warned that consuming adulterated alcohol could cause nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, drowsiness, and dizziness, blue-tinged or pale skin, irregular or slow breathing, low body temperature, unconsciousness, or passing out.
She said it could also lead to kidney and liver failure, or even death.
Adeyeye stated, “Methanol, a substance which can be used in fake vodka, may cause permanent blindness. The WHO in their Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health estimated that more than three million people die all over the world as a result of alcohol poisoning.
“Furthermore, the International Agency for Research on Cancer ascertained that one of every 10 cancer cases in Nigeria could be traced to alcohol and 4.7 per cent of overall cancer cases in Nigeria in 2019 could be attributed to consumption of adulterated alcohol.”
While urging Nigerians to remain vigilant, Adeyeye advised them to scrutinise branded drinks to distinguish them from counterfeits before consuming them.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on its official X handle said consumers had a right to standard products and services.
“Nigerian consumers have a right to standard products and services, and must be protected from any kind of market exploitation,” it noted.
The ministry gave an assurance that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, would continue to provide NAFDAC the necessary support required to strengthen and enhance its operations across the country.
‘Lagos consumers protected’
The General Manager, Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Mr Afolabi Solebo, in an interview with one of our correspondents, noted that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had zero tolerance for counterfeiting and substandard product merchants.
Solebo stated, “It is something of much concern to Mr Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and we have always defended the consumer rights in Lagos State. In this festive period when most of these people perpetrating this evil will always come up with expired and counterfeited products, it is a very appalling menace, but the state will not relent to clamp down on these criminals.
“Consumers in Lagos State are protected and culprits will be brought to justice no matter whose ox is gored. This is because if these people love themselves, they will not be selling substandard products to the general public.
“These products are very hazardous to human health and it is unfortunate. We will keep doing our advocacy and enforcement to ensure that Lagosians are protected against these unscrupulous practices.”
He also noted that consumers could report directly to the agency’s offices and on social media if they identify where the crimes were being committed or want to lodge general complaints.
Solebo added, “We have our offices in Ikoyi-Obalende, Badagry, Bariga, Ojo, and Ikorodu local government areas.
“They can email us at [email protected] and the phone numbers people can reach immediately are 09064323145 and 08092509777.
“People should also watch out for products they buy to make sure that they get value for their money. They must check the product information, NAFDAC number, manufacturing and expiry dates, and other products whose prices have been drastically reduced. “
‘Govt to blame’
The Head of Department, Shipping and Terminal Logistics Operations, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders Headquarters, Ugochukwu Nnadi, noted that the first thing encouraging counterfeiting in the country was the prohibitive cost of production.
He stated, “The cost of production in Nigeria is very high, mostly because of epileptic power supply. The operating environment is also very challenging.
“Some people indeed go outside the country, produce these substandard products, and bring them to Nigeria to sell. If the environment is tolerable to the producers, the infiltration of fake products will be curbed.
“The regulatory agencies that control these products most times abandon their duties, take bribes, and look the other way. The security agencies, too, whose duty it is to stop these things from coming in, close their eyes and look the other way.
“These things can harm people. Everybody is suffering. The government has a lot to do to make sure that the climate for local production is favourable.”
Cloned NAFDAC numbers
The NAFDAC director, Iluyomade, noted that there was a problem with counterfeiters cloning already-made product’s NAFDAC numbers.
“People suffer to bring in or manufacture the right products, but someone is waiting for the products to land in the market before they begin to clone the products and make fast money from them,” he stated.
To identify fake products, the director said NAFDAC had formulated what it termed ‘the four Ps’, which he identified as pricing, product, place, and packaging.
For ‘pricing’, he said products that were drastically cheaper than usual might be substandard, adding that users should be wary.
Iluyomade explained, “We have a culture in this country of always going for a cheaper option. Part of this is a cultural problem. If a seller tells you that AYZ is N50,000, the average Nigerian will tell you that it is expensive and will ask for an alternative. That is where this starts from. We don’t demand quality. We don’t want to pay for quality. When these alternatives are offered, most times, they turn out to be faked.
“Wines generally are very expensive because there is a high import duty on them. So, if a bottle of wine is sold for N2,500 and a variety of cheaper options is sold for between N600 and N800, the average Nigerian will go for those options.
“If it is too cheap, then it is probably fake.”
For ‘place’, he said, “Where we buy products from also matters. Some companies have made a name for themselves and are not willing to tarnish their image for anything because of a few changes here and there. They also have a way of verifying their products.
“There is a lower percentage to get a fake product from there. Supermarkets must have systems in place, including invoices, inventories of suppliers, and the like; those are the best places to buy. But, the problem is that when Nigerians go there, they will say the prices of the goods are too exorbitant. “
For ‘packaging’, he said, “We should be very cautious about the packaging. Check for labelling or spelling errors. Once there is an error, it is fake. If ‘texture’ is spelled as ‘recture’, then it is fake. Genuine manufacturers don’t make mistakes because there is quality control. Once there is a labelling lapse, it is a red flag.”
For ‘product’, he urged consumers to check for taste, smell, dent, colour, particles, or anything to show that something was wrong with the product.
“Don’t just buy and take it as it is seen. In this period, everyone must be careful and watch out for themselves,” he added.
Culprits risk imprisonment
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Olalekan Ojo, said the proliferation of counterfeit and fake products in the country was disturbing and had grave implications for the economy.
Ojo said the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous) Provision Act Cap C.34 law of the Federation of Nigeria prohibits the production, importation, manufacturing, sale, and distribution of any counterfeit, adulterated, fake, substandard, or expired drug and unwholesome processed foods in any form.
According to him, the law also prohibits the hawking or display of such products or aiding such practice.
The senior lawyer stated, “The penalties vary from imprisonment for a minimum of five years and a maximum of 15 years, or a fine not exceeding N500,000.
“The law has done its part and what is important is the enforcement of the provisions of the law. Under this law, there is supposed to be a task force so that people involved in the manufacture and sale of fake and counterfeit products can be arrested and prosecuted.
“Unfortunately, most of them don’t get arrested, and many of those who get arrested are not prosecuted. We must adopt a more productive approach to law enforcement in Nigeria.”
