The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to combat the production, distribution and sale of fake, adulterated and substandard food and beverages in Nigeria, warning that the practice poses serious public health risks.
The House made the call during plenary on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Abubakar Yalleman, who represents Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.
Moving the motion, Yalleman said access to safe and quality food and beverages was essential to the health, well-being and productivity of Nigerians.
He noted that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) regulates food, bottled water and other products within its mandate, while the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) oversees consumer protection and product safety. The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is also responsible for ensuring that products meet applicable standards.
Although he acknowledged the efforts of the agencies, the lawmaker expressed concern over the continued circulation of products carrying misleading or deceptive information, including altered production and expiry dates, batch numbers, manufacturers’ details and ingredient lists.
Yalleman said proper hygiene, standardised production processes and compliance with food safety requirements were necessary to prevent illnesses caused by harmful bacteria, chemical residues, expired ingredients and physical contaminants.
He added that adherence to safety standards would improve the competitiveness of Nigerian food businesses in regional and international markets by reducing the rejection of exported products and supporting economic growth.
The lawmaker cited recent cases involving counterfeit alcoholic beverages and illegal food and drink factories as evidence of the problem.
He referred to NAFDAC’s dismantling of illegal alcohol counterfeiting syndicates at Zamfara Plaza on Lagos Island on 22 April 2026, as well as a raid by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on an illegal, unregistered fruit juice factory in Badagry, Lagos State, on 22 September 2026.
According to Yalleman, the incidents reflected the growing production and distribution of fake, adulterated, unregistered and substandard food products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, beverages and bottled water consumed by Nigerians daily.
He warned that some manufacturers and distributors counterfeit established brands, alter product labels and expiry dates, use inferior or contaminated raw materials, illegally reuse or refill containers, and operate outside approved regulatory standards.
Such practices, he said, could expose consumers to severe health consequences, including acute poisoning, cancer and damage to vital organs such as the kidneys, lungs, liver and heart.
Yalleman maintained that existing laws provided a basis for tackling unsafe products but called for stronger enforcement, improved coordination among regulatory agencies, enhanced market surveillance and greater public awareness.
He also warned that children, older people and other vulnerable groups could face particular risks from consuming contaminated or substandard food and drinks.
The lawmaker said the continued circulation of such products, despite the presence of NAFDAC, SON, FCCPC, the police and the NSCDC, required stronger legislative and executive action.
The House subsequently urged the Federal Government to treat the production and circulation of fake, adulterated, counterfeit and substandard food and beverages as an urgent national concern requiring sustained regulatory attention.
It also called on NAFDAC, SON and FCCPC, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, state governments and other relevant agencies, to intensify nationwide surveillance, inspections, product sampling, laboratory testing and enforcement operations.
The measures are expected to target manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers involved in producing or selling unsafe products.
The House further mandated its relevant committees, particularly those on 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 to submit their findings to the House within four weeks to guide further legislative action, including measures to tackle the circulation of fake and substandard food, drinks and drugs.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has begun considering a proposed regulatory framework for nutrition practice in Nigeria through a bill seeking to establish the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria.
Lawmakers and stakeholders met on Tuesday for a public hearing on the proposed legislation, which aims to strengthen professional standards, improve the quality of nutrition services and protect Nigerians from harmful or misleading nutritional advice.
Declaring the hearing open, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, said the establishment of a Standing Committee on Nutrition and Food Security reflected the importance of nutrition to public health, education, healthcare expenditure and national productivity.
Abbas urged stakeholders to contribute constructively to the legislative process, stressing that the bill should address clearly identified needs and establish a practical framework for regulating the profession.
He said the proposed law should be assessed by its ability to improve professional competence, protect the public and raise the quality of nutrition services, rather than simply creating another institution.
“By getting the regulatory framework right, we can strengthen preventive healthcare, reduce avoidable health burdens and contribute to the development of a healthier and more productive population,” the Speaker added.
