The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed alarm over the growing circulation of unsafe and counterfeit consumer products in Nigeria. NANS Senate President Moses Ibeabuchi, in a statement issued on Sunday, highlighted the widespread sale of adulterated food, suspected fake drugs, and substandard consumables including toothpaste, palm oil, soy sauce, olive oil and yoghurt. These products are reportedly being sold in markets, by roadside vendors and increasingly through social media and e-commerce platforms. Ibeabuchi called for stronger regulatory oversight, questioning the effectiveness of current systems meant to safeguard public health.
The association pointed to recent reports of artificially enhanced fruits and counterfeit supplements as evidence of a broader problem. It also referenced former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo's account of his wife suffering unexplained headaches after drinking freshly squeezed orange juice. According to NANS, tests on the juice reportedly showed it was not fit for human consumption. The group urged relevant agencies to improve verification and traceability mechanisms for online vendors, stressing the need for more rigorous monitoring of both physical and digital marketplaces.
Moses Ibeabuchi questions regulatory effectiveness while citing Osinbajo's personal experience as proof of systemic failure. If high-profile cases rely on individual testing to expose dangerous products, ordinary Nigerians face greater risk from unchecked supply chains. The push for stronger online vendor controls suggests a gap between current enforcement and evolving retail methods.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
