Health
…accuses NAFDAC, SON of gross dereliction amidst flood of fake foods, poisonous consumables
THE Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) issues this urgent and damning alert: Nigerians are being systematically exposed to a deadly wave of counterfeit, adulterated, and toxic consumables, while regulatory agencies charged with protecting public health appear paralysed, compromised, or blatantly negligent.
HURIWA states unequivocally that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria have failed catastrophically in their statutory responsibilities, allowing Nigeria’s markets to degenerate into a free-for-all arena for fake products and dangerous goods.
Across Abuja and major cities, evidence abounds of a frightening infiltration of counterfeit wines, adulterated beverages, substandard processed foods, and questionable household items. What should be basic consumables have now become potential instruments of slow poisoning. Reports indicate that a vast majority of so-called imported wines are fake, while even widely consumed soft drinks are being illicitly reproduced and sold to unsuspecting Nigerians.
Even more alarming are widespread allegations that fruits are chemically induced to ripen using hazardous substances, while infant foods and household staples—once trusted—are now being counterfeited at scale. The implication is chilling: no Nigerian is safe—not even infants.
HURIWA warns that the country is already witnessing the devastating consequences of this regulatory collapse. Hospitals are recording an unsettling surge in kidney-related diseases and other chronic conditions, increasingly affecting younger populations. This is not coincidental—it is the predictable outcome of a system that has abandoned its duty to protect public health.
The Association condemns, in the strongest possible terms, what it describes as a toxic mix of regulatory incompetence, institutional decay, and suspected collusion between unscrupulous businesses and compromised officials. Nigeria, HURIWA warns, is fast becoming a dumping ground for fake, substandard, and potentially lethal products.
HURIWA therefore demands immediate and sweeping action by the Federal Government, including a total overhaul of NAFDAC and SON. This must involve the removal of ineffective leadership, the installation of courageous and reform-driven professionals, and the deployment of aggressive enforcement strategies to dismantle the networks behind this dangerous trade.
The Association calls for a return to the fearless regulatory culture exemplified by Dora Akunyili, whose tenure remains a benchmark for integrity, courage, and results-driven public service.
HURIWA further insists that those found complicit—whether in the public or private sector—must face immediate investigation and prosecution. Anything less would amount to state-enabled endangerment of lives.
This is no longer a regulatory issue—it is a national emergency.
Nigerians deserve safe food, safe medicines, and a system that protects rather than endangers them. The time for complacency is over. The time for decisive action is now.
A.I
May 5, 2026
Tags: Dora Akunyili HURIWA NAFDAC