The House of Representatives on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, called on the Federal Government to immediately intensify its fight against the circulation of fake, adulterated, and substandard food and beverages, warning that unsafe consumables pose grave risks to public health, national productivity, and economic stability.
The resolution followed the adoption of a Motion of Urgent Public Importance sponsored by Hon. Abubakar Yalleman, representing the Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.
Hon. Yalleman raised alarm over illicit manufacturers and distributors who alter expiry dates, use contaminated ingredients, refill branded containers, and clone established packaging.
Citing major enforcement operations, including NAFDAC’s dismantling of alcohol-counterfeiting syndicates at Lagos Island on April 22, 2026, and the NSCDC’s shutdown of an illegal fruit juice factory in Badagry on September 22, 2026, the House stressed that surveillance must focus heavily on manufacturing hubs and distribution chains before products reach consumers.
Lawmakers warned that contaminated consumables subject citizens to foodborne illnesses, acute poisoning, and long-term organ damage, with children, elderly citizens, and vulnerable groups facing the highest risk.
The House urged the Federal Government to treat the issue as an urgent national priority. It called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to coordinate joint nationwide raids, laboratory testing, and supply-chain surveillance alongside the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, and state authorities.
The House Committee on Health Institutions and other relevant Committees have been mandated to engage regulatory agencies, assess current enforcement capacities, evaluate existing legislative frameworks, and report back to plenary within four weeks with actionable recommendations.
