The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed multiple shops and arrested six individuals in Sabon Gari, Kano State, over the illegal sale and administration of unapproved skin bleaching creams.
The enforcement action followed a coordinated raid by NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, prompted by public complaints submitted via social media platforms and a directive from the agency’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.
Addressing the press in Kano, the State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Mr. Kasim Ibrahim, confirmed that undercover surveillance and “mystery shopping” operations led to the identification of shops and individuals involved in the illicit trade.
“Following discreet investigations, we discovered six suspects actively distributing and administering dangerous, unregulated bleaching products under the guise of beauty spa treatments,” Ibrahim said.
According to NAFDAC, the seized products contained substances banned or not approved for use in cosmetics and posed significant public health risks.
During the raid, officials confiscated samples for laboratory analysis and sealed all implicated shops. Some additional facilities found to be counterfeiting registered cosmetic products or violating other regulatory standards were also shut pending further investigation.
Mr. Ibrahim emphasized the agency’s commitment to its mandate of ensuring that only safe, approved, and properly labeled products are sold in Nigeria. “This enforcement effort is part of our broader mission to protect public health and prevent potentially disastrous outcomes from unregulated cosmetics,” he stated.
He further urged the public to stay alert and cooperate with authorities. “We appeal to Nigerians: if you see something, say something. Reporting suspicious activities is key to preventing health emergencies,” he said.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its resolve to enforce regulations under the leadership of Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye and warned that further crackdowns would continue across the country to curb the rising misuse of harmful cosmetic products.