{
  "id": 7428325,
  "title": "THE CRISIS OF COUNTERFEIT GOODS Offenders should be severely punished",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/the-crisis-of-counterfeit-goods-offenders-should-be-severely-punished",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-14T23:50:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/09/15/the-crisis-of-counterfeit-goods-offenders-should-be-severely-punished/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Counterfeit and substandard products are increasingly prevalent across Nigeria, posing risks to public health, legitimate businesses, and investment. From food and water to medicines and building materials, fakes are found across various sectors. Recent months have seen alarm raised over fake toothpastes, body creams, contaminated bottled water, milk, baby products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and household items. In Ondo State, contaminated alcoholic drinks have claimed at least 29 lives. Task force operations in parks, markets, and streets aim to enforce bans on herbal drink sales.\n\nCounterfeiting is facilitated by the relatively higher cost of genuine brands, prompting consumers to opt for cheaper, well-packaged fakes. The closure of multinational drug manufacturers due to economic conditions has encouraged the proliferation of adulterated and counterfeit drugs. Poor quality medicines contribute to treatment failures, drug resistance, organ damage, cardiac complications, and cancer. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has received 225 counterfeit product complaints in August alone, seizing 7,210 products. Despite these efforts, NAFDAC is overwhelmed.\n\nThe agency has secured convictions against counterfeiters, though many deem these insufficient given the scale of the problem. Nigeria's trade partnerships with countries where faking and adulteration are established create added challenges. Corruption at ports of entry and within regulatory agencies further complicates matters. Addressing the complicity culture in trafficking substandard products is crucial.\n\nA coordinated effort involving the federal government, non-governmental organizations, and corporate bodies is necessary to combat the issue. NAFDAC and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) must collaborate with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to protect the public from the dangers of fake and adulterated goods. Public awareness campaigns about the risks of counterfeit drugs and substandard products are essential. Enhanced penalties for offenders should extend beyond mere years of imprisonment to life imprisonment.",
  "summary": "There is a surge in counterfeit and substandard products across the country, putting many at risk, stifling legitimate businesses, and discouraging investment. From food items to water to medicines, and",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}