Nollywood actress and filmmaker Ruth Kadiri has raised concerns over the circulation of suspected fake, contaminated and substandard products in Nigeria, urging the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to intensify efforts to protect consumers.
Kadiri made the call in a video shared on her Instagram page on Sunday, where she expressed concern about the safety of food, drinks, medicines, cosmetics and household products being sold to Nigerians.
The actress said consumers often purchase products believing they are safe, only to discover that some may be poorly produced, contaminated or counterfeit.
She described the situation as more than a business concern, warning that unsafe products could pose serious risks to human health, particularly when counterfeit medicines are involved.
Kadiri also expressed concern about reports of children suffering from kidney-related illnesses, questioning whether exposure to unsafe products could be contributing to some of the health challenges. She did not provide scientific evidence establishing a direct link between the reported illnesses and counterfeit products.
The actress recounted an experience involving garlic she bought, saying it changed colour after she blended it, which made her question the quality of some food products available to consumers. She also said she was becoming increasingly concerned about buying packaged drinks for her children because of uncertainty over their safety.
Kadiri urged parents and other consumers to pay closer attention to expiry dates and NAFDAC registration numbers when purchasing regulated products. She also called on Nigerians to report suspected counterfeit-product manufacturers and distributors rather than remaining silent.
She further appealed to NAFDAC and other regulatory authorities to strengthen inspections of manufacturing and distribution outlets and ensure that anyone found producing or selling harmful counterfeit products faces appropriate sanctions.
Her comments come amid recent NAFDAC alerts over suspected counterfeit products. In September, the agency warned Nigerians about suspected counterfeit ORACIRE+ toothpaste allegedly being distributed under the guise of the registered ORACARE+ brand, saying surveillance and investigations had commenced.
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