The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has admitted that it cannot exercise absolute regulatory control over unbranded palm oil, fufu and other traditionally packaged staple foods sold in open markets across Nigeria.

The disclosure effectively highlights a gap in the agency’s ability to directly monitor a significant category of food products consumed daily by Nigerians, particularly those sold loose or without formal packaging and labelling.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the clarification on Monday while briefing journalists on the agency’s efforts to tackle suspected counterfeit, adulterated and unsafe products in the country.

Adeyeye said the agency received 225 complaints about suspected counterfeit products in August, adding that more than 200 complaints are lodged by Nigerians every month through NAFDAC’s various reporting channels.

She urged members of the public to report suspected counterfeit and unsafe products through the agency’s official complaint channels rather than relying on social media reports, stressing that alleged offenders operate within communities and business premises.

The NAFDAC boss said the agency’s 24-hour call centre and other reporting platforms enable it to assess complaints and determine whether they require further investigation.

While acknowledging concerns over allegedly adulterated or unsafe yoghurt, palm oil, apples, soy sauce, olive oil, chicken, fish, water and beverages, Adeyeye cautioned that social media claims alone cannot establish that a product is counterfeit or dangerous.

She explained that NAFDAC’s food regulatory mandate is primarily focused on processed and packaged products, covering inspection, sampling, laboratory testing, compliance monitoring, post-market surveillance, complaint investigation, product verification, recalls and enforcement.