Deadly goods on sale: How fake products damage organs, destroy lives

*Everyday purchases now turn to health hazards *Patients end up paying twice for treatment —Adefunke Adeniyi *Counterfeit drugs damage kidneys, liver — Amarachukwu Enahoro *Adulterated drugs can cause collapse of health sector — Pharmacists warn

By Chioma Obinna

It is an understatement to say that Nigeria is currently battling a health crisis. Virtually every product, drug, food or drink is being counterfeited in the country and the consequence is fatal. Toddlers are no longer safe because counterfeit baby foods are everywhere. Parents now need to exercise caution in the choice of biscuits to give to their children as some biscuits have been discovered to contain toxic.

A tablet swallowed to cure malaria could end up damaging the kidneys or liver while a bottle of drink bought to quench thirst could expose the consumer to dangerous substances. Similarly, cooking oil packaged under a trusted brand could contain ingredients far removed from what the label promises. For millions of Nigerians, the growing menace of fake and substandard products has turned everyday purchases into a potentially deadly gamble, with consequences ranging from failed treatment and organ damage to disability and death.

The scale of the threat is underscored by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which reported destroying unsafe, falsified and non-compliant regulated products worth ₦22.73 billion between January and August 2026. Yet, beyond the billions of naira in seized and destroyed goods lies a more disturbing reality: the human cost of a trade that preys on consumers, undermines medical treatment, drains family resources and puts lives at risk.

Health experts have therefore raised the alarm that harmful substances in counterfeit medicines, drinks and food products can damage vital organs. The question now is no longer just how much Nigeria is losing to fake products, but how many lives are being put in danger.

When the medicine fails

The danger is particularly serious when counterfeit or substandard medicines are used to treat common illnesses such as malaria. A patient experiencing fever and body aches may buy an antimalarial, take it as directed and expect to recover. But a medicine containing insufficient active ingredients, no effective ingredient or an inappropriate substance may fail to treat the illness, allowing the patient’s condition to worsen.

Dr Amarachukwu Enahoro, a medical doctor and public health physician at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), said counterfeit medicines could defeat the very purpose for which they were purchased. “The consequence for that person might be that the main purpose for which this medicine was put, which is to treat malaria, will not be achieved,” she said. “The second implication is that it can now cause damage. Depending on what they used to prepare the fake medication, it can now cause damage to the kidneys and the liver.”

The effects depend on the substances involved, the quantity consumed and the person’s health. While some injuries may be reversible with prompt treatment, severe damage can result in lasting loss of organ function, disability and a diminished quality of life.

“The liver can be affected. The kidneys can be affected. And these have the potential to cause disability, loss of function, when these organs are damaged. It affects the quality of life of the people,” Enahoro said.

A major NAFDAC operation in Lagos in February 2026 illustrated the potential scale of the threat. The agency reportedly seized more than 10 million doses of counterfeit malaria medicines and cosmetic products valued at approximately ₦3billion during a raid at Trade Fair Market. The reported haul included antimalarials, antibiotics and other medicines. Eight truckloads of products were removed, while four suspects were arrested.

Another warning came in April 2025, when NAFDAC alerted Nigerians to counterfeit Aflotin 20/120 antimalarial tablets circulating under the name of a genuine medicine. The alert followed the identification of discrepancies in the counterfeit product’s packaging and batch information.

For patients who depend on timely treatment, the danger is clear: a medicine may carry a familiar name without providing the quality, safety or effectiveness they expect.

The danger beyond the medicine cabinet

Counterfeit and adulterated food products can also expose consumers to harmful substances, sometimes affecting several people who consume the same product. Reports of deaths and hospitalisations following the consumption of locally made alcoholic and herbal drinks in Ondo State have raised concerns about the safety of beverages consumed at social gatherings. Reports have also linked suspected contaminated juices in Kano State to severe illness, including kidney-related complications. These incidents highlight the potential consequences when the contents and safety of products cannot be guaranteed.

In January 2026, NAFDAC also reported an operation involving fake Goya Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Lagos. At Oke-Arin Market, Idumota, the agency reportedly uncovered an alleged operation in which palm oil was mixed with colouring agents and repackaged as Goya olive oil. The case illustrated how a trusted brand name could be exploited to sell a product whose composition differed from what consumers expected. For buyers, the deception may be difficult to detect. Familiar packaging can inspire confidence even when the contents have not been verified.

Also speaking with Saturday Vanguard, Dr Ope Osunyomi, a public health expert, Financial Secretary of the Medical Guild and medical officer of health with the Lagos State Government, warned that harmful substances in fake products could damage vital organs.

“If those things that they are consuming contain things that can affect those major organs of the body, it can actually lead to failure of those organs,” he said. The effects depend on the product’s actual composition, the amount consumed and the individual’s health. Children, pregnant women, older people and those living with chronic illnesses may be particularly vulnerable to certain harmful exposures.

The difficulty is that consumers may not immediately recognise the connection between a product and their symptoms. Some counterfeit goods look convincing enough to inspire confidence, while copied labels and registration numbers can make them difficult to identify through visual inspection alone.

Paying twice for treatment

For many Nigerians, price plays a decisive role in what they buy. As household budgets tighten, cheaper medicines and other products can appear to offer much-needed relief. But a low price may conceal a much higher eventual cost.

In a chat with Saturday Vanguard, Dr Adefunke Ronnie Adeniyi, a public health physician at LUTH, said consumers who bought fake or substandard products could end up spending more when the expected treatment failed. “The problem is that the cheaper product may not actually save them money in the long run,” she said. “If it is fake or substandard and the illness does not improve, they may end up spending more on another round of treatment, investigations or hospital admission.”

A patient may need another consultation, additional medication or hospital admission. If complications develop, the costs can rise considerably.

There is also the loss of income when illness prevents people from working. Families may have to divert money meant for food, school fees or other necessities towards treatment, while relatives may lose working hours caring for sick family members.

Adeniyi said the problem should not be reduced to blaming consumers for purchasing cheaper products. Poverty and the rising cost of living can push people towards less expensive options, particularly where affordable, quality medicines are difficult to access.

She also pointed to the complexity of the supply chain. Counterfeit products can enter through manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, markets, pharmacies and online sellers, making effective monitoring difficult. Some are packaged to resemble genuine products so closely that consumers cannot reliably distinguish them by appearance. Even a NAFDAC registration number is not conclusive proof of authenticity because counterfeiters can copy details from legitimate products.

Consumers should buy medicines from reputable, licensed sources, check product details and use available authentication services. They should be alert to broken seals, altered labels and suspicious packaging, while remembering that visual inspection alone cannot guarantee safety.

Anyone who suspects a product is falsified or contaminated should report it to the appropriate regulator. Those who become seriously ill after taking medicine or consuming a product should seek prompt medical attention and, where possible, retain the packaging and batch details to support investigation.

The consequences also extend beyond individual households. Poor-quality antimicrobial medicines can contribute to treatment failure, while inadequate exposure to effective treatment can help resistant microorganisms survive and spread. Antimicrobial resistance makes infections harder to treat, potentially leading to longer illnesses, more complicated care and greater pressure on health facilities.

According to Dr Adewale Oladipo, Medical Practitioner and Public Health Physician, “the increasing circulation of fake and counterfeit medicines in Nigeria is a serious public health threat that should not be treated lightly. The consequences go beyond the financial losses suffered by unsuspecting consumers; they directly threaten human lives. When people take counterfeit medicines, they expose themselves to serious health complications because such products may contain little or no active pharmaceutical ingredients, incorrect dosages or harmful substances. In some cases, patients may believe they are receiving treatment when, in reality, the drugs are doing nothing to address their medical conditions.

“One of the most dangerous consequences is treatment failure. For instance, a patient suffering from malaria, typhoid, hypertension, diabetes or an infectious disease may experience worsening symptoms because the medicine being administered is either ineffective or contains the wrong ingredients. This can lead to complications, prolonged illness, organ damage and, in severe cases, death.

“Another major concern is antimicrobial resistance, particularly with fake antibiotics. When medicines contain inadequate quantities of active ingredients, they may fail to eliminate disease-causing organisms, allowing them to develop resistance. This makes infections increasingly difficult and expensive to treat and poses a serious challenge to the healthcare system. The situation is particularly dangerous for children, pregnant women, elderly people and individuals living with chronic illnesses, who may suffer severe consequences from exposure to substandard or falsified medicines.

“Nigerians must understand that taking medicines is not simply about swallowing tablets or administering injections; it is about ensuring that the products are genuine, safe and appropriate for the condition being treated. People should avoid self-medication, purchase medicines from reputable and licensed outlets, and seek medical advice whenever they experience unusual reactions or suspect that a medicine is ineffective.

NAFDAC and other relevant authorities must also intensify public enlightenment, surveillance and enforcement to ensure that those involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit medicines are identified and prosecuted. Protecting the quality of medicines available to citizens is fundamental to protecting public health.

From seizures to prevention

The continued circulation of fake and substandard products calls for more than raids and destruction exercises. It requires a stronger system for detecting unsafe goods, tracing their sources and preventing them from reaching consumers.

Osunyomi called for stronger regulatory institutions, particularly NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, alongside more effective enforcement. “There’s a lot that needs to be done to help to strengthen these institutions, so that they can help to discover where some of these things are being done or being manufactured and being brought into the market space,” he said.

Adeniyi called for more effective inspections, laboratory testing, surveillance and monitoring of distribution networks, including online sales. Manufacturers and distributors must maintain robust quality-control systems, while healthcare professionals should educate patients and report suspected falsified medicines or unusual treatment failures.

Market associations can help discourage the sale of suspicious products, while law enforcement agencies should investigate those involved in large-scale production and distribution.

Public education is equally important. Consumers need accessible information on how to purchase medicines safely, recognise warning signs and report suspected products. Government must also improve access to affordable, quality medicines so that cost does not push people towards unsafe alternatives.

Osunyomi stressed that protecting communities cannot be left to regulators alone. “We need to take ownership of our community,” he said. She urged community leaders, religious organisations, market associations and individual citizens to reject the sale of unsafe products and report suspicious activities.

The stakes are high. Beyond the value of goods seized or destroyed are the costs borne by families: money spent on repeated treatment, wages lost to illness, pressure on hospitals and the possibility of permanent injury. For Nigerians, buying medicine or food should not become a gamble with their health. A tablet should offer a genuine chance of recovery; a bottle of drink should not carry hidden dangers; and a familiar brand should mean what consumers have every reason to expect.

The real measure of success in the fight against fake products will not be the value of goods destroyed, but how effectively Nigeria prevents unsafe products from reaching consumers.

Vanguard News

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