The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its crackdown on counterfeit alcohol, recently dismantling an illicit production site in Lugbe, Abuja. During the operation, led by Mr. Shaba Mohammed, Director of NAFDAC’s Federal Task Force, enforcement teams uncovered large quantities of fake alcoholic beverages, expired ingredients with tampered dates, and equipment used to repackage these products in reused bottles.
According to Mr. Mohammed, Lugbe has become a hotspot for counterfeit alcohol production and distribution. “This operation is part of a broader effort to target counterfeit hotspots,” he said, explaining that bottles found at the site were labeled to mimic popular brands, with expiration dates altered to deceive consumers.
The raid revealed that counterfeit products were being packaged in residential locations, with imitation materials used to create convincing, fraudulent replicas of well-known alcoholic beverages. NAFDAC has since sealed the facility and launched an investigation into those involved in the operation.
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The agency’s actions in Abuja align with nationwide enforcement efforts aimed at curbing the rise in counterfeit and unregistered products. Mr. Tamanuwa Andrew, NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement in Kaduna, reported similar raids in other areas, including Abuja’s Wuse Market and Mararaba, a community on the border of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa State.
“We’ve also seen a surge in unregistered herbal remedies and pharmaceutical products alongside counterfeit alcohol,” Mr. Andrew noted, adding that NAFDAC’s ongoing surveillance aims to clear these dangerous products from the markets and protect public health.
As the festive season approaches—typically a period of heightened demand for alcohol—NAFDAC is increasing its enforcement actions to prevent the circulation of substandard beverages. These efforts underscore the agency’s commitment to safeguarding consumers and upholding product quality standards across Nigeria.
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