NAFDAC Issues Urgent Warning: Banned Imported Foods Flooding Nigerian Markets

 

​The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a stern and urgent alarm over the widespread circulation of prohibited and potentially unsafe food products across Nigerian markets. These illegal items, which include widely consumed staples such as pasta, noodles, sugar, and tomato paste, are strictly listed on the Federal Government's Customs Prohibition List, meaning their importation is banned.

​Why Are These Foods Dangerous?

​NAFDAC emphasizes that the sale and distribution of these prohibited imported goods pose a severe threat to public health for a critical reason: they have completely bypassed the agency's mandatory safety and quality evaluations. Without NAFDAC’s rigorous testing for contaminants, standards compliance, and overall safety, consumers are unknowingly exposed to risks from products that could be substandard, falsely labeled, or contain harmful substances. The unauthorized import violates national trade laws and compromises the integrity of Nigeria's entire food control system.

​Enforcement and Compliance Directives

​In response to this growing public health risk, NAFDAC has directed all involved parties—including importers, market traders, and supermarket operators—to immediately cease all dealings in these prohibited food items. The agency insists that supply chain partners must also halt transactions involving these illegal products.

​NAFDAC has warned that failure to comply will result in strict enforcement measures, including the immediate seizure and destruction of goods, along with potential suspension or revocation of operational licenses and prosecution under relevant laws. The agency is also actively calling for stronger collaboration with other key government bodies, such as the Nigeria Customs Service, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Nigeria Immigration Service, to intensify border control and market surveillance efforts to tackle this smuggling operation effectively.

​Consumers are strongly advised to remain vigilant and only purchase food products that bear the official NAFDAC registration number to guarantee safety and compliance.