Millions of Nigerians who buy food from informal markets face possible exposure to adulterated products because up to 70 per cent of urban residents rely on markets without formal regulatory oversight or cold-chain facilities, experts maintained in Lagos on Tuesday.
The warning came out during a meeting in Ikeja, where regulators, health scientists, and consumer advocates came together to look at food safety problems and discuss ways to keep people safe.
The figure was presented by Dr Adeniyi Odugbemi of Food Update Konsult at the fourth Lagos State Food Safety 2026 Conference and Exhibition at NECA House. He also said food-borne illnesses account for more than 53,000 deaths and 50 million cases of disease in Nigeria every year.
Informal markets face safety challenge
Odugbemi’s figures placed informal food markets at the heart of the safety problem discussed at the conference.
Such markets serve a large share of urban consumers, yet they do not have formal regulatory oversight or cold-chain infrastructure, the expert said.
Cold-chain infrastructure refers to facilities that keep food at suitable temperatures during storage and transport. Without such facilities, food can face conditions that affect its safety.
Afolabi Solebo, Chief Executive of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), said food safety in Lagos should be viewed in relation to economic stability and public welfare.
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The conference was themed “From Burden to Solution- Safe Food Everywhere” and brought regulators, scientists and consumer rights advocates together to discuss food safety.
One specific product received particular scrutiny during the technical sessions: palm oil.
Dr Nurayn Oseni warned that chemical dyes are routinely added to substandard palm oil to make it appear to be of better quality. She estimated that as many as seven out of every 10 market samples could be compromised.
Oseni said regulators need significant investment in laboratory facilities and staff training to detect sophisticated forms of adulteration.
She also recommended internationally recognised testing methods, including the Malaysian BOB and AIB protocols.
The scientist proposed mandatory batch-tracing systems for retailers. Such systems would help trace products back to their producers and make it easier to identify those responsible when unsafe goods are found.
NAFDAC records 225 complaints
The discussions in Lagos came alongside figures from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) showing continued reports from consumers about suspected unsafe products.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency received 225 complaints about suspected counterfeit products in August.
Adeyeye said NAFDAC receives more than 200 complaints from Nigerians each month through its complaint channels. She said these reports provide useful leads for investigations.
She also said the agency was aware of reports involving suspected adulterated, counterfeit and unsafe food products.
The products mentioned included yoghurt, palm oil, apples, soy sauce, olive oil, chicken, fish, water and beverages.
The NAFDAC chief cautioned that claims made on social media cannot by themselves prove that a product is counterfeit or unsafe.
She said scientific testing and regulatory investigation are needed to establish whether a product is unsafe or fake.
Adeyeye asked Nigerians to report suspected counterfeiters through NAFDAC’s official complaint channels instead of relying only on social media.
The issue also extends to the responsibilities of businesses selling food and other consumer products.
Tunji Bello, Chief Executive of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), said state regulatory agencies cannot inspect every commercial transaction on their own.
He said state agencies, civil society organisations and market associations must act collectively to protect consumers.
Bello also said businesses should respect basic consumer rights by providing clear labels, correct expiry dates and transparent information about ingredients.
He warned that businesses that deliberately compromise safety to cut costs would face sanctions.
The conference placed food testing, traceability, consumer reporting and business compliance alongside regulation as measures for addressing unsafe products. NAFDAC’s 225 complaints in August also provide a current channel through which suspected products can be reported and investigated.
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