The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated expired and highly toxic chemicals valued at over ₦1 billion during a sting operation at Folarin Olawale Cole Close in the Alapere-Ketu area of Lagos State.
Describing the seizure as one of the largest and most dangerous in recent years, NAFDAC warned that the chemicals posed grave risks to both public health and national security.
Speaking after the operation, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement and Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Substandard Products, called the discovery “massive and unprecedented.”
He revealed that three warehouses were raided, all packed with banned, expired, and hazardous chemicals—many intended for use in food and pharmaceutical production.
“What we saw here is shocking. All expired. Some even labeled ‘Not for Sale.’ These are substances that should only be in government-controlled facilities, not in private warehouses,” Iluyomade stated.
He emphasized that such chemicals, in the wrong hands, could be weaponized.
“This goes beyond a public health violation. These chemicals can be used to make explosives and other dangerous items. It’s a national security threat.”
Iluyomade also noted a strategic shift in NAFDAC’s enforcement approach, expanding efforts to target raw materials, not just finished products.
“If you use the wrong raw materials, the end product is already compromised. We’re taking a holistic approach—from production inputs to final goods—to protect Nigerian consumers,” he said.
He added that the operation exposed a dangerous supply chain run by a single individual, who owns all three warehouses and several distribution outlets.
“This isn’t just someone hoarding expired chemicals; this person is supplying others. It’s a network of danger,” he warned, promising that all those connected to the illegal operation would be prosecuted.
Dr. Leonardo Omopariola, NAFDAC’s Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, said the operation was triggered by a whistleblower tip, which led to an internal investigation and swift action by the agency.
“Once we confirmed the intelligence, we launched the operation immediately. What we found was a disaster zone,” Omopariola said.
He expressed deep concern that some of the expired chemicals were food-grade and still being distributed.
“Once these substances expire, their composition changes. They’re no longer safe—they become toxic. What people consume from these materials is effectively poison.”
Some of the seized items were marked as “Donated – Not for Sale,” suggesting that diverted humanitarian aid may have been part of the operation.
Omopariola estimated the value of the confiscated chemicals to be between ₦700 million and ₦1 billion and confirmed that some included controlled substances like caustic soda, for which the suspect had no legal permit.
“The fact that everything was expired and improperly stored shows they were illegally acquired. This is a serious breach of regulatory laws.”
Two suspects were arrested during the raid. NAFDAC has vowed to trace and prosecute everyone linked to the operation.
The agency also appealed to the public for support in its fight against counterfeit and hazardous products.
“We operate a whistleblower policy. If you suspect anyone of selling expired or dangerous substances, report them to us. Your identity will be protected—and there may be a reward. This is about protecting lives,” Omopariola said.
