Lung Detox Tea: NAFDAC threatens lawsuit over inducement allegations

• Declares Aba Cemetery Market fake products hub
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said it is taking legal action over false allegations of financial inducement against the agency relating to a misleading herbal product, Lung Detox Tea (Lungitox).

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this at a press briefing yesterday in Lagos.

Adeyeye said the agency was not unmindful of the bogus and unsubstantiated allegations of financial inducement contained in the video.

She stated: “Ordinarily, this sort of claim will be ignored, particularly since the product was not registered by the agency. However, our Legal Services Directorate (LESD) is reviewing the statements of financial compromise to seek redress in the law court. This should serve as a deterrent to individuals, who may choose to malign or make libellous statements against the agency in the future.”

“NAFDAC categorically refutes this claim as false, baseless and completely unfounded. The product in question, Lung Detox Tea or Lungitox (Smokers Pride), or any similar product is not registered by NAFDAC.”

Adeyeye further explained that it was important to emphasise that NAFDAC did not and would never permit the approval, importation, exportation, manufacture, advertisement, distribution or sale of any product that lacked a solid scientific basis or any product that posed a potential risk to public health.

NAFDAC urged the public to disregard the misleading video and avoid purchasing any suspicious or unregistered products.

The agency reiterated its commitment to public health and warned against attempts to mislead Nigerians with unsubstantiated claims.

MEANWHILE, the agency has declared Eziukwu Market, also known as Cemetery Market, Aba, Abia State as the centre for fake and substandard product production and distribution.

The agency made the declaration during an operation led by the Director, South-East Zone, NAFDAC, Mr Martins Iluyomade, to the market, yesterday.

Iluyomade described the market as a centre for mass production and distribution of fake and substandard products, likening the situation to weapons of mass destruction.

The director said that despite previous crackdowns, including a major operation in December 2023, illegal activities persisted in the market.

He said it was baffling that individuals remained recalcitrant and determined to make money at the expense of the lives of their fellow citizens.

“During the last operation the leadership of the market signed an undertaking with NAFDAC to identify and expose those involved in the production and sale of fake goods,’’ he said.

According to him, the agency will revisit the agreement as market leaders now have serious questions to answer.

Iluyomade said the volume of expired products being re-validated was deeply troubling.

He advised consumers to remain vigilant about the products they purchase to avoid endangering their health.