The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered an illegal herbal medicine factory in Agege, Lagos State, where three unregistered products were allegedly manufactured under unhygienic conditions.

The agency sealed the facility and arrested the factory manager, Abulaziz Sayidu, while the alleged owner, a Ghanaian woman identified as Ashietu Adams, reportedly fled to Ghana.

The discovery was made on Thursday following intelligence received on October 16 concerning Ashietu Adams Bitters, which allegedly carried a fake NAFDAC registration number.

Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC, Pharm. Edith Joseph, disclosed that the factory was operating inside a residential building without the agency’s approval.

She said the facility operated in the open air under poor hygienic conditions, raising concerns about the safety of the products manufactured there.

The products seized include Ashietu Adams Herbal Mixture for sexually transmitted diseases, a Blood Purifier and a blood pressure mixture.

Joseph further revealed that the registration number displayed on the Blood Purifier had been cloned from a registered cough syrup, allegedly to mislead consumers into believing that the product was approved by NAFDAC.

Following the discovery, the agency sealed the facility and evacuated the products.

NAFDAC urged Nigerians not to rely solely on registration numbers when purchasing herbal medicines and other regulated products, advising consumers to verify their authenticity through the agency’s Greenbook and other official online platforms.

The agency also warned landlords against allowing their properties to be used for illegal manufacturing activities.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of Public Relations at NAFDAC, Mrs. Christiana Obiazikwor, called on members of the public to report suspicious manufacturing activities.

She added that the agency was intensifying public awareness campaigns and advocating stiffer penalties for individuals involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit products.