The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to strengthen the fight against fake, adulterated and substandard food and beverages, warning that the products threaten public health across Nigeria.

The lawmakers made the call during Tuesday’s plenary after adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Abubakar Yalleman, who represents Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.

Yalleman said Nigerians needed safe and quality food to maintain good health, improve productivity and support economic growth.

He stressed that proper food processing, hygiene and compliance with safety standards would help prevent illnesses caused by harmful bacteria, chemical residues, contaminated ingredients and foreign materials.

The lawmaker also noted that adherence to food safety regulations would strengthen Nigerian businesses in regional and international markets. It would reduce the rejection of exported products and improve the country’s trade prospects.

However, he expressed concern over the growing activities of counterfeiters and illegal factories producing food and drinks outside regulatory standards.

He cited the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control’s (NAFDAC) operation against illegal alcohol counterfeiting syndicates at Zamfara Plaza on Lagos Island on April 22, 2026.

He also referred to a September 22, 2026 raid by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on an illegal, unregistered fruit juice factory in Badagry, Lagos State.

According to Yalleman, the incidents highlight the spread of fake, adulterated, unregistered and substandard products, including alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic beverages and bottled water.

He warned that the activities of unscrupulous manufacturers and distributors exposed consumers to potentially dangerous substances.

Such operators, he said, counterfeit established brands, alter labels and expiry dates, use inferior or contaminated raw materials, and illegally refill containers.

According to him, the practices could expose consumers to acute poisoning, cancer and damage to vital organs, including the liver, kidneys, lungs and heart.

“The House is concerned that some unscrupulous manufacturers and distributors engage in practices such as counterfeiting established brands, altering labels and expiry dates, using inferior or contaminated raw materials,” he said.

Yalleman identified NAFDAC, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and theFederal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) as key agencies responsible for product regulation, standards and consumer protection.

Although he acknowledged their efforts, he said fake products continued to circulate, often bearing misleading information about their production and expiry dates, batch numbers, manufacturers and ingredients.

The lawmaker argued that existing laws provided a framework for tackling the problem. However, he called for stronger enforcement, better coordination among agencies, effective market surveillance and increased public awareness.

He said children, older people and other vulnerable groups faced particular risks from unsafe food and beverages.

“The increasing circulation of fake and substandard food and drinks is a very disturbing development which calls for more legislative and executive actions,” Yalleman noted.

He urged the government and regulatory agencies to improve inspections, surveillance and prosecution across the food and beverage supply chain.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House called on the Federal Government to treat the production and sale of fake, adulterated and substandard food and beverages as a matter of urgent national importance.

It also urged NAFDAC, SON and FCCPC to work with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, state governments and other relevant bodies to intensify nationwide inspections and enforcement.

The proposed measures include product sampling, laboratory testing and surveillance of manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers suspected of producing or selling unsafe goods.

The House further mandated its relevant committees, particularly those responsible for health, industry, customs, standards and consumer protection, to engage regulatory agencies and other stakeholders.

The committees will assess the scale of the problem and examine how effectively existing regulations address the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products.

They are expected to submit their findings to the House within four weeks for further legislative action, including recommendations to curb fake food, drinks and drugs.