NANS Urges Regulatory Agencies To Step Up Efforts, As Adulterated Foods, Drugs Flood Nigeria

By Ayodele Oni

The Senate of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on regulatory authorities to strengthen monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, following circulation of suspected counterfeit drugs, adulterated food and other potentially harmful consumable products across Nigeria.

The students body also expressed concern about the sale of such products in markets, by roadside vendors and through online platforms, urging regulatory authorities to strengthen monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

In a statement issued on Sunday, NANS Senate President, Ibeabuchi Moses Onyia, said the development had raised questions about the effectiveness of existing systems for regulating drugs, food and other consumable products in the country.

The association cited recent reports involving suspected counterfeit toothpaste, dyed palm oil, artificially enhanced fruits, counterfeit soy sauce and olive oil, as well as suspected fake yoghurt products, as examples of the growing concerns surrounding consumer safety.

NANS also drew attention to the increasing sale of drugs, supplements, cosmetics and food products through social media and e-commerce platforms.

It called on relevant agencies to establish stronger verification and traceability systems for vendors operating online.

The student body further urged regulatory agencies to improve public awareness campaigns and issue timely alerts whenever products suspected to pose health risks are identified.

NANS also referenced recent comments attributed to former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo concerning the safety of freshly prepared orange juice.

According to the association, Osinbajo said his wife, Dolapo, experienced unexplained headaches after consuming freshly squeezed orange juice, which was subsequently tested and reportedly found unfit for human consumption.

The former vice-president reportedly linked the concern to substances allegedly used in the ripening and preservation of some agricultural produce, including calcium carbide, while calling for stronger regulation, enforcement and public awareness.

Reacting to the development, NANS said the reported incident demonstrated that concerns over unsafe consumables could affect Nigerians across different social classes.

The association called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other relevant bodies to intensify surveillance of physical markets, as well as digital platforms where food, drugs and other consumables are sold.

NANS described the issue as more than a public health concern, warning that counterfeit drugs and adulterated consumables could contribute to drug resistance, organ damage and other serious health consequences.

The student body urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in what it described as weaknesses within NAFDAC and other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

It demanded an independent audit of the enforcement capacity and performance of the agencies, alongside a comprehensive review of NAFDAC’s monitoring of online and social media commerce.

Among its other demands, NANS called for mandatory verification of vendors selling food, drugs and other consumables online, prosecution of individuals and platforms facilitating unregulated sales, and public disclosure of findings relating to the safety concerns raised by Osinbajo.

The association also called for an independent investigation into chemicals allegedly used to treat agricultural produce and other consumables, as well as sustained enforcement against manufacturers and distributors of suspected counterfeit and adulterated products.

NANS further demanded a transparent accountability framework under which regulatory agencies would regularly disclose their enforcement activities and outcomes to the public.