The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered expired and hazardous chemicals valued at over N1 billion during a recent sting operation at Folarin Olawale Cole Close in the Alapere-Ketu area of Lagos.
NAFDAC described this seizure as one of the largest and most dangerous in recent years, highlighting the serious threats these chemicals pose to public health and national security.
Speaking after the raid, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement and Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Substandard Products, stated that the raid yielded a massive and unprecedented discovery. According to Iluyomade, the three warehouses raided were filled with prohibited, expired, and highly toxic chemicals, many of which were intended for food and pharmaceutical use.
“What we saw here is shocking. All expired. Some marked ‘Not for Sale.’ These are chemicals that should only be in government custody, not in the hands of private individuals,” he explained.
Iluyomade emphasized that such chemicals in the wrong hands could fuel insecurity. “Chemicals in the wrong hands are dangerous. They can be used to make bombs or other dangerous items. This is not just a public health issue, it is a national security threat,” he asserted. He added that NAFDAC is expanding its enforcement efforts to include raw materials, not just finished products.
