By James Adamu
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to declare a national emergency over the production, distribution and sale of fake, adulterated and substandard food and beverages, warning that the growing menace poses serious risks to public health.
The House made the call during plenary on Tuesday, following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Abubakar Yalleman, the member representing Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.
Moving the motion, Yalleman said access to safe, wholesome 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 was statutorily responsible for regulating food, bottled water and other products under its mandate, while the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was responsible for consumer protection and product safety. He added that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria also plays a key role in ensuring that products meet applicable standards.
He acknowledged the efforts of the three agencies but said concerns persisted over the circulation of products bearing misleading or deceptive information, particularly regarding production and expiry dates, batch numbers, manufacturers’ details and ingredients.
He explained that standardised processing methods and proper hygiene practices were necessary to prevent foodborne illnesses caused by harmful bacteria, chemical residues, expired ingredients and physical contaminants, adding that compliance with food safety standards would also improve the competitiveness of Nigerian food businesses in regional and international markets by reducing the rejection of exported products and boosting economic growth.
The lawmaker expressed concern over recent incidents involving the production of counterfeit alcoholic beverages and the operation of illegal food and drink factories.
He cited the dismantling of illegal alcohol counterfeiting syndicates at Zamfara Plaza on Lagos Island by NAFDAC on April 22, 2026, as well as the raid on an illegal, unregistered fruit juice factory by officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Badagry, Lagos State, on September 22, 2026.
According to him, the incidents “comprise the growing production, distribution and sales of fake, adulterated, unregistered and substandard food products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, beverages, bottled water and other products consumed daily by communities in Nigeria thereby putting Nigerians at risk of developing serious health issues.”
Yalleman said some unscrupulous manufacturers and distributors counterfeit established brands, alter product labels and expiry dates, use inferior or contaminated raw materials, illegally reuse or refill containers, and manufacture food and beverages outside approved regulatory standards.
He warned that such practices could expose consumers to life-threatening health conditions, including acute poisoning, cancer and damage to vital organs such as the kidneys, lungs, liver and heart.
“The House is concerned that some unscrupulous manufacturers and distributors engage in practices such as counterfeiting established brands, altering labels and expiry dates, using inferior or contaminated raw materials, illegally reusing or refilling containers, and producing food and beverages outside approved regulatory standards, thereby posing severe life-threatening public health risks, including acute poisoning, cancer and damage to vital organs like the kidney, lung, liver, heart,” he said.
The All Progressives Congress lawmaker said existing laws and regulations provided a basis for dealing with unsafe products, but called for stronger enforcement, improved coordination among regulatory agencies, better market surveillance and greater public awareness.
He warned that the circulation of fake and substandard food and drinks posed particular risks to children, older people and other vulnerable groups, potentially contributing to foodborne illnesses, poisoning and other preventable health problems.
“The House is disturbed that, with the presence of NAFDAC, SON, FCCPC, the Police, and NSCDC, the increasing circulation of fake and substandard food and drinks is a very disturbing development which calls for more legislative and executive actions,” he said.
“We recognise the need for more effective, efficient and better-coordinated result-oriented surveillance, inspection, enforcement and timely prosecution throughout the food and beverage supply chain to rid the country of counterfeit and sub-standard products.”
Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the Federal Government to treat the production and circulation of fake, adulterated, counterfeit and substandard food and beverages as a matter of urgent national importance 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 against manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers involved in the production or sale of such products.
The House further mandated its relevant committees, particularly those on Health, Industry, Customs, Standards and Consumer Protection, to engage the regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to assess the scale of the problem and the effectiveness of existing enforcement measures.
The committees are to report their findings to the House within four weeks for further legislative action, including measures to address the circulation of fake, counterfeit and substandard food, drinks and drugs.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has begun moves to establish a regulatory framework for nutrition practice in Nigeria, with lawmakers and stakeholders meeting on Tuesday to consider a bill seeking to establish the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria.
The proposed legislation is aimed at strengthening professional standards, improving the quality of nutrition services and protecting Nigerians from harmful or misleading nutritional advice.
Declaring the public 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.
He urged stakeholders to contribute constructively to the process, stressing that the proposed law must address clearly identified needs and provide a workable framework for regulating the profession.
“Ultimately, the measure of this bill will not be the creation of another institution but whether it strengthens professional competence, protects Nigerians from harmful or misleading advice and improves the quality of nutrition services available to the public.
“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,” Abbas added.
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