The House of Representatives has called for tougher measures to combat the production and sale of fake food, adulterated beverages and substandard consumer goods, while commencing a review of a proposed law to regulate the nutrition profession in Nigeria.
The lawmakers made the call during plenary on Tuesday, when they adopted a motion on food safety before proceeding to a public hearing on the bill seeking to establish the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria.
The House urged the Presidency to strengthen efforts to tackle illegal manufacturing facilities and counterfeit product networks, warning that the circulation of unsafe food and drinks poses a significant threat to public health.
The motion was sponsored by Abubakar Yalleman, who represents Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.
It advocated stricter enforcement of existing regulations and improved collaboration among agencies responsible for food safety and consumer protection.
Yalleman stressed that access to safe and quality food was fundamental to public health, productivity and national development.
He noted that proper processing, hygienic practices and compliance with established standards could help prevent illnesses arising from harmful bacteria, chemical residues and contaminated ingredients.
He also raised concerns over the activities of illegal factories and counterfeiters, citing the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control’s (NAFDAC) operation against alcohol-counterfeiting syndicates at Zamfara Plaza on Lagos Island on April 22, 2026.
The lawmaker further referenced a September 22 operation by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which uncovered an illegal and unregistered fruit juice factory in Badagry, Lagos State.
He warned that the consumption of adulterated food and beverages could expose Nigerians to severe health complications, including poisoning, cancer and damage to vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs and heart.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Chike Okafor, said the public hearing on the proposed nutrition bill was intended to provide an opportunity for citizens, professionals and other stakeholders to contribute to the legislative process.
Okafor assured participants that the committee had not reached a predetermined position on the bill and would carefully consider arguments both in support of and against the proposed legislation before making its recommendations.
In a related development, NAFDAC has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerians from unsafe medicines supplied under the United States-Nigeria Government (USG-GoN) agreement.
The agency said it would deploy a technology-driven tracking system to monitor the distribution of medical products supplied under the arrangement, which covers medicines for HIV/AIDS intended to address gaps following the exit of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye, NAFDAC maintained that it would continue to exercise its statutory authority over the regulation of medicines, vaccines and diagnostic products despite existing arrangements for regulatory reliance on other countries.
The agency explained that the memorandum of understanding governing the agreement refers to an existing regulatory-reliance arrangement between NAFDAC and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Under the framework, medicines manufactured in the United States and approved by the FDA may qualify for expedited approval in Nigeria, based on the rigour of the American regulatory process.
However, NAFDAC clarified that products supplied under the agreement but manufactured outside the United States would undergo testing by the Nigerian agency to establish their quality, safety and efficacy.
It added that regulatory reliance was designed to minimise unnecessary duplication and facilitate faster access to quality-assured medicines without undermining NAFDAC’s independent regulatory authority.
The agency said its responsibilities would continue to include evaluating applications, inspecting products and manufacturing facilities, conducting risk-based testing, releasing vaccine lots and carrying out post-market surveillance where necessary.
