GDN SIDEBAR
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Ruth Kadiri has raised concerns over the circulation of fake and potentially harmful products in Nigeria after recounting an experience involving garlic that reportedly turned green after she blended it.
Kadiri shared her concerns in a video message to Nigerians, urging the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to strengthen its monitoring of products sold across the country.The actress said Nigerians routinely purchase food, drinks, medicines, cosmetics and household products believing they are safe, only to discover that some may be poorly produced, contaminated or counterfeit.
According to her, the issue goes beyond financial loss, as unsafe products can have serious consequences for consumers, particularly children.“This is not just a business problem. It’s a threat to human life,” she said, while expressing concern about children dealing with serious health conditions that she attributed to fake products.
Kadiri then recounted her experience with garlic, saying she bought the product, blended it and stepped away. When she returned, she noticed that the garlic had changed colour and turned green.“I bought garlic, blended it, went upstairs and came back, my garlic had turned green,” she said.
The actress said the incident added to her concerns about the safety of products available to Nigerian consumers. She also disclosed that she is increasingly cautious about buying pre-packaged drinks for her children because of concerns about what the products might contain.
Kadiri urged Nigerians to speak up when they notice suspicious products being manufactured or sold in their communities.“It’s not just a buying problem. It is a we problem,” she said, stressing that consumers have a role to play in confronting the circulation of counterfeit products.She also directed her appeal at NAFDAC, asking the regulatory agency to pay closer attention to the lives and wellbeing of Nigerians.“NAFDAC, please pay attention to the lives of Nigerians. Lots and lots of people are sick and are not getting better,” she said.
Kadiri further advised parents and guardians to be more careful when purchasing products for their families, particularly food, medicines and other regulated goods. She urged consumers to check expiry dates and NAFDAC registration numbers before buying products.
Her warning has renewed conversations about counterfeit and substandard goods in Nigeria, where regulators and consumers continue to grapple with the challenge of unsafe products.
However, Kadiri’s account of the garlic changing colour remains a personal observation and does not, by itself, establish that the garlic was counterfeit, contaminated or unsafe. No independent laboratory test or regulatory finding confirming the cause of the colour change was reported alongside her comments.
The actress’s intervention nevertheless highlights the importance of consumer vigilance and stronger regulatory oversight, particularly for products that are eaten, consumed or used by children. She called on Nigerians to reject silence around suspected counterfeit goods and report suspicious activities, stressing that collective action is necessary to protect consumers from potentially harmful products.
Kadiri shared her concerns in a video message to Nigerians, urging the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to strengthen its monitoring of products sold across the country.The actress said Nigerians routinely purchase food, drinks, medicines, cosmetics and household products believing they are safe, only to discover that some may be poorly produced, contaminated or counterfeit.
According to her, the issue goes beyond financial loss, as unsafe products can have serious consequences for consumers, particularly children.“This is not just a business problem. It’s a threat to human life,” she said, while expressing concern about children dealing with serious health conditions that she attributed to fake products.
Kadiri then recounted her experience with garlic, saying she bought the product, blended it and stepped away. When she returned, she noticed that the garlic had changed colour and turned green.“I bought garlic, blended it, went upstairs and came back, my garlic had turned green,” she said.
The actress said the incident added to her concerns about the safety of products available to Nigerian consumers. She also disclosed that she is increasingly cautious about buying pre-packaged drinks for her children because of concerns about what the products might contain.
Kadiri urged Nigerians to speak up when they notice suspicious products being manufactured or sold in their communities.“It’s not just a buying problem. It is a we problem,” she said, stressing that consumers have a role to play in confronting the circulation of counterfeit products.She also directed her appeal at NAFDAC, asking the regulatory agency to pay closer attention to the lives and wellbeing of Nigerians.“NAFDAC, please pay attention to the lives of Nigerians. Lots and lots of people are sick and are not getting better,” she said.
Kadiri further advised parents and guardians to be more careful when purchasing products for their families, particularly food, medicines and other regulated goods. She urged consumers to check expiry dates and NAFDAC registration numbers before buying products.
Her warning has renewed conversations about counterfeit and substandard goods in Nigeria, where regulators and consumers continue to grapple with the challenge of unsafe products.
However, Kadiri’s account of the garlic changing colour remains a personal observation and does not, by itself, establish that the garlic was counterfeit, contaminated or unsafe. No independent laboratory test or regulatory finding confirming the cause of the colour change was reported alongside her comments.
The actress’s intervention nevertheless highlights the importance of consumer vigilance and stronger regulatory oversight, particularly for products that are eaten, consumed or used by children. She called on Nigerians to reject silence around suspected counterfeit goods and report suspicious activities, stressing that collective action is necessary to protect consumers from potentially harmful products.
