The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raided a production facility in Makoko Community, Yaba, Lagos, recovering 1,584 bottles of suspected counterfeit Nivea Roll-On Deodorant.
The operation followed intelligence gathered by the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate over the production, sale and distribution of suspected adulterated and counterfeit Nivea products. Two suspects were arrested during the investigation.
According to NAFDAC’s Head of Media, Enforcement Directorate, Victoria Akudu, the agency had earlier raided a market on Lagos Island on August 18, 2026, where suspected counterfeit Nivea Roll-Ons were being sold and distributed.
Two suspects, Basil Ukpa and Ikechukwu Mba, were arrested and questioned. During interrogation, they reportedly disclosed that the alleged kingpin produced the counterfeit products at a facility in Makoko and supplied some of them to Lagos Island for distribution.
“Further investigation conducted by the enforcement team led to the production site located within Makoko Community, Yaba, Lagos, where the suspected adulteration and counterfeiting activities were taking place,” Akudu said.
At the facility, NAFDAC recovered 1,584 bottles of suspected counterfeit Nivea Roll-On Deodorant, each measuring 50ml, as well as 1,000 empty 50ml Nivea bottles, 400 bottle covers, 20 rolls of packaging materials and label stickers.
The agency also recovered a bucket containing an unidentified chemical substance, alongside machines, appliances and other accessories suspected to have been used in the production process.
NAFDAC said all the recovered items were evacuated from the premises and moved to its warehouse for safe custody and further regulatory action.
Samples of the products and substances have been sent to the agency’s laboratory for analysis to determine their composition, quality, safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
Akudu said the agency considers the production, sale and distribution of suspected adulterated and counterfeit regulated products a serious threat to public health, as such products may not meet required standards of quality, safety and efficacy.
She added that investigations were ongoing, with further action to be taken in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
NAFDAC also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health by ensuring that regulated products available in Nigeria meet the required standards of quality, safety and wholesomeness.