The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria have come under pressure over proliferation of counterfeit products as Nigerians take to social media to expose food, drugs, cosmetics and other consumer goods suspected to be fake, substandard and dangerous.
The online campaign also brought renewed scrutiny to the effectiveness of the country’s regulatory system, with Nigerians questioning how such products continue to make their way into markets despite the statutory responsibilities of NAFDAC and SON to regulate products and protect consumers.
While some of the social media claims have yet to be independently verified, the reports have increased fears among consumers and intensified calls for stronger surveillance and enforcement from the regulatory agencies.
Fake food, toothpaste, drink, drug
Findings by the Newsmen showed that the online campaign took a different dimension following the recent deaths of some celebrities, including veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, from cancer.
Also, increasing reports of sudden deaths have drawn attention to possible links between the tragedies and consumption of counterfeit products.
In the last few months, Nigerians have taken to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram to share awareness videos highlighting counterfeit products in local markets.
The clips often feature side-by-side comparisons, market investigations, and practical tips for spotting fakes.
Ordinary citizens, doctors, content creators, and even regulatory voices have amplified the messages and turned personal discoveries into viral public service announcements.
One of the most prominent recent examples involves suspected fake Oral-B toothpaste.
In September, a Nigerian doctor, Somto Okonkwo, posted a detailed comparison video showing genuine and counterfeit Oral-B tubes side by side.
The clip, which highlighted differences in packaging quality, seals, texture, translucency, and taste, was widely shared by different accounts.
In the video, Okonkwo demonstrated how the fake versions often feature seals absent on originals, thicker and less translucent paste, and a less minty flavour, while warning viewers of the potential dangers.
The video gained significant traction when United Kingdom-based Nigerian physician, Dr Olufunmilayo Ogunsanya, amplified it.
Okonkwo recounted visiting five to seven shops where all stocked counterfeit Oral-B toothpaste, with many sellers unaware of the fakes.
He explained that genuine products typically use safe glycerine, while some counterfeits may substitute the toxic chemical diethylene glycol.
Around the same period, other toothpaste-related alerts circulated.
Fake food products have also featured heavily in recent awareness clips.
Videos circulating in early September showed counterfeit Hollandia yoghurt being packaged in unsanitary conditions.
Accounts such as @_InsideNigeria and @KosoNwa1 shared the disturbing footage, questioning NAFDAC’s response and urging consumers to remain vigilant about product safety.
Earlier comparisons by individuals, including couples who poured genuine and suspected fake yoghurt into clear cups to demonstrate differences in thickness, creaminess, and the presence of barcodes, further fuelled online discussions and warnings.
On September 4, Olufunmilayo posted about paracetamol tablets: photos of two tablets allegedly from the same company that differ clearly in colour when placed side by side.
He noted that consumers would only notice the discrepancy by direct comparison, warning that “one is fake, or both are fake” and that Nigerians rely on such products when ill.
He blamed NAFDAC for failing in its duties, stating the agency “has killed thousands of people by failing to do their job.”
Multiple X users reported personal experiences and broader lists of fakes: dyed palm oil, painted apples (green to red), fake soy sauce/olive oil, substandard or fake chicken/fish, fake water/soda, fake drinks/alcohols, and varying textures/tastes of Hollandia bought from different spots.
One user noted realising he had been using fake Oral-B after seeing related posts and listed dyed palm oil, painted apples, and fake Hollandia as part of a longer pattern.
Others tagged NAFDAC directly, urging action against alleged producers of fake drinks, alcohols, and medicines.
Additional recent commentary includes frustration over the volume of counterfeits (malt drinks, spaghetti in older raids), calls to buy only from trusted sources, and expressions that everyday staples now require extreme caution.