The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians to the widespread circulation of fake Goya oil, particularly products packaged in plastic (PET) bottles, which it says are injurious to health if applied to the skin or ingested.
The Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC, Dr Martins Iluyomade, issued the warning while addressing journalists during a media parley to enlighten and sensitise Nigerians in Apapa, Lagos on Friday.
Iluyomade said recent enforcement operations by the agency uncovered shocking discoveries, including the local production of fake Goya oil in Lagos, noting that there is only one reputable company responsible for importing the product in Nigeria.
According to him, NAFDAC discovered that some individuals were manufacturing the product inside Oke-arin market in Idumota, where palm oil was heated and mixed with colouring substances before being repackaged.
He explained that enforcement officers saw stoves used for the operation, as well as large quantities of empty bottles intended for refilling and repackaging.
“Let me say this to everybody, including churches, prayer houses, and everywhere this is used. There is no original Goya oil that is packed in plastic bottles,” he stressed.
He reiterated that authentic Goya oil is packaged only in glass bottles, urging Nigerians to take note of the distinction.
The NAFDAC official appealed to Nigerians to report any sale of Goya oil in plastic bottles to the nearest NAFDAC office, describing the practice as a serious and widespread issue.
“A lot of people are doing this in different places. This is a serious issue. There are many varieties of this PET bottle,” he said.
Iluyomade further warned Nigerians about the growing production of fake alcoholic drinks, describing the practice as endemic across the country.
“Another issue we also want to enlighten Nigerians about is the production of fake alcoholic drinks which has become seriously endemic in this country,” he said, attributing the spread to how easy the products are to manufacture using water, substandard ingredients and colouring.
He disclosed that NAFDAC had arrested several suspects involved in the illegal activity, including a major producer in Lagos identified as Moses Nelson, who was apprehended while supplying fake alcoholic drinks to the market after producing them at his residence in the Badagry area of the state.
According to him, the suspect has already been charged to court, while a search of his house revealed large quantities of fake products, including “all manners of sophisticated brands you can think of,” noting that the operation involved a distribution chain supplying major markets from the production base.
Iluyomade appealed to distributors to desist from patronising unauthorised suppliers, warning that the quest for profit could have deadly consequences.
“Why buy from people you know are not the owners of these brands?” he asked, urging Nigerians to be cautious of unusually cheap products, adding that “the money you want to save, I hope you will not spend it in the hospital.”
