Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Ruth Kadiri has raised fresh concerns over the circulation of suspected fake and potentially harmful products in Nigeria, urging the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to intensify efforts to protect consumers.
Kadiri made the call on Sunday, October 4, 2026, after recounting an experience involving garlic she had purchased. Her comments have added a prominent public voice to a growing conversation in Nigeria about the safety and authenticity of everyday products sold in markets, shops and other retail outlets.
According to reports on her remarks, the actress said her experience with the garlic made her question the quality of products Nigerians routinely buy and consume. She expressed concern that the problem goes beyond inconvenience or financial loss, warning that fake or unsafe products can have serious consequences for human health.
Kadiri's concern was particularly focused on the possible effect of unsafe products on children and other vulnerable consumers. She referred to children battling kidney failure while stressing the need for greater attention to the products entering Nigerian homes.
Her comments, however, should be understood as a warning and public concern rather than evidence that the garlic she encountered has been scientifically confirmed as counterfeit or that it caused any illness. No independent laboratory finding establishing such a link was reported alongside her remarks.
The actress called on NAFDAC to provide stronger solutions to the problem and pay closer attention to what Nigerians are buying and consuming. Her appeal comes amid renewed public scrutiny of the country's regulatory system following social media reports and consumer complaints about allegedly fake, adulterated or substandard products.
The issue has recently attracted wider attention. In September, NAFDAC responded to online allegations concerning suspected fake and adulterated food products, stressing that social media claims alone cannot establish whether a product is unsafe. The agency said complaints involving suspected counterfeit or substandard products must be properly investigated and scientifically verified before conclusions can be reached.
NAFDAC's position is important in the context of Kadiri's warning because the appearance, taste, packaging or other characteristics of a product may raise suspicion, but scientific testing and regulatory investigation are necessary to establish whether a particular product is genuinely counterfeit, adulterated or otherwise unsafe.
The agency has also continued to issue specific alerts concerning suspected counterfeit products. In September, NAFDAC warned Nigerians about suspected counterfeit ORACIRE+ toothpaste allegedly being distributed under the guise of the registered ORACARE+ brand. The agency said surveillance in Ojuwoye Market, Mushin, Lagos, found that the suspected counterfeit closely resembled the registered product, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish between them.
NAFDAC said the origin, composition, safety and quality of the suspected counterfeit toothpaste had not been verified and directed its officials to investigate its availability and distribution. The agency also urged consumers and healthcare providers to report suspected sales of counterfeit products.
The concerns extend beyond toothpaste and food items. Earlier in 2026, NAFDAC warned airlines, shipping companies and logistics operators that facilitating the importation of counterfeit products could attract sanctions and prosecution. The agency said counterfeiters were exploiting modern supply chains, online procurement platforms and cargo consolidation systems to distribute fake medicines, cosmetics, beverages and other regulated products.
The renewed debate is significant because products that are consumed, applied to the body or used as medicines can present risks that ordinary counterfeit consumer goods may not. Where the contents, manufacturing conditions, storage history or labelling of a product are unknown, consumers may have little way of determining whether it meets approved safety standards.
Nigeria has experienced serious public-health consequences from unsafe products in the past. One of the country's most notable cases involved the contaminated teething mixture My Pikin. In 2008 and 2009, an outbreak of acute kidney failure among children was linked to diethylene glycol contamination of the product. The episode became a major warning about the potentially devastating consequences of toxic substances entering products intended for children.
The country also faced another major warning in 2024 when NAFDAC recalled a batch of Benylin Paediatric cough syrup after laboratory testing found an unacceptably high level of diethylene glycol, a chemical associated with acute kidney injury and potentially fatal poisoning.
These cases provide important context for Kadiri's reference to children with kidney problems, but they do not establish any connection between her garlic experience and kidney disease. Medical causes of kidney disease are varied, and individual cases require proper clinical assessment rather than assumptions based on the suspected quality of a food item.
For consumers, the controversy underscores the importance of regulatory oversight and credible verification. Suspicion about a product should be reported to the relevant authorities rather than treated as proof that a particular brand, seller or food item is dangerous. Consumers can also preserve the packaging and receipt of a suspected product to assist an investigation.
Kadiri's intervention has nevertheless brought renewed attention to a problem that regulators, manufacturers and consumers continue to confront. Her appeal reflects broader anxiety over the difficulty of distinguishing genuine products from counterfeit or substandard alternatives in a market where packaging can sometimes be copied closely.
Kadiri's message ultimately calls for stronger vigilance and accountability. While her personal experience does not by itself prove that the garlic was fake or unsafe, it has helped draw public attention to the importance of ensuring that products sold to Nigerians meet established safety and quality requirements and strengthen public confidence and public health safeguards. The actress's appeal places responsibility on consumers to remain cautious, while underscoring the need for regulators to investigate credible complaints and communicate verified findings clearly.
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