NANS raises concerns over counterfeit products, food in Nigeria

The Senate of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has raised concerns over the high presence of unsafe food and other products across the country.

The agency said the sale of suspected fake medicines, fake food in markets, by roadside traders and through online platforms is also worrying.

NANS Senate President, Moses Ibeabuchi, in a statement on Sunday, called for stronger regulatory measures to protect consumers, adding, that the developments raise questions about the effectiveness of existing measures to regulate medicines, food and other consumer products.

NANS said recent reports of alleged counterfeit toothpaste, palm oil, artificial fruit, counterfeit soy sauce and olive oil, as well as alleged counterfeit yoghurt products, underscore the need for increased monitoring and enforcement.

The association also raised concerns regarding the sale of medicines, supplements, cosmetics and food products through social media and e-commerce platforms, and urged relevant authorities to strengthen verification and traceability mechanisms for online vendors.

The association was referring to former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s recent comments regarding fake orange juice.

According to NANS, Osinbajo said his wife experienced unexplained headaches after consuming fresh orange juice, and subsequent tests reportedly showed that the juice was unfit for human consumption.