The Senate of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has raised alarm over the widespread circulation of suspected counterfeit drugs and adulterated food products in Nigeria. In a statement released on September 6, NANS President Ibeabuchi Moses Onyia highlighted recent reports of fake toothpaste, dyed palm oil, counterfeit soy sauce, olive oil, yoghurt, and artificially ripened fruits being sold in markets, by roadside vendors, and through online platforms. The group urged NAFDAC and other regulatory bodies to strengthen surveillance and enforcement across both physical and digital marketplaces.
NANS referenced comments by former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who reportedly said his wife suffered unexplained headaches after drinking freshly squeezed orange juice later found unfit for consumption. Osinbajo linked the issue to the use of harmful substances like calcium carbide in ripening agricultural produce and called for improved regulation and public awareness. In response, NANS stressed that if a former vice-president with access to top-tier healthcare and protection could be exposed to such risks, ordinary Nigerians faced far greater danger. The group described the situation as a development and moral crisis, warning that fake drugs and poisoned food undermine public health, economic productivity, and national progress.
The association demanded timely public alerts, better traceability for online vendors, and intensified monitoring of all distribution channels. It warned that counterfeit antibiotics could lead to organ damage, drug resistance, or death, while chemically treated food silently harms families and weakens the workforce.
A former vice-president's personal encounter with adulterated juice underscores a failure to protect even the most privileged from unsafe consumables. If those with power and access are not shielded, the risk to students, market traders, and children is far more severe. The state's silence in the face of such evidence reveals a crisis of enforcement, not just of food and drug safety.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
