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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a stomach-churning illegal operation in the heart of Lagos, where counterfeiters were producing fake “Goya Oil” by boiling palm oil and mixing it with chlorine.
During a press conference held on Friday, January 23, 2026, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Mr. Martins Iluyomade, revealed that the “factory” was tucked away inside the busy Oke-Arin market. The criminals behind the operation used nothing more than domestic stoves to process the toxic mixture before bottling it for sale to unsuspecting citizens and religious organizations.
The Danger in the PET Bottle
A primary target for these counterfeiters is the religious community, where Goya oil is frequently used as anointing oil. Mr. Iluyomade issued a stern warning to churches and prayer houses, noting that many people have even taken to consuming the product.
“Some people even drink anointing oil. You are not drinking anointing oil—you are drinking poison,” Iluyomade stated.
To help Nigerians identify the fakes, NAFDAC provided a simple rule of thumb: *Original Goya oil is never packaged in plastic (PET) bottles. Original Goya oil is imported by a reputable company and always comes in glass bottles. If you see it in a plastic bottle, it is a fake. Report it to the nearest NAFDAC office immediately,” the Director urged.
Dismantling the Alcohol Counterfeit Syndicate
The agency’s recent enforcement sweep also led to the arrest of a major player in the fake alcohol business. Mr. Moses Nelson was apprehended in the Badagry area of Lagos, where he allegedly ran a sophisticated distribution chain that supplied virtually every major spirit and wine brand to markets across the state.
“The faking of alcoholic drinks has become endemic because it is so easy to counterfeit,” Iluyomade explained. He cautioned distributors against buying from unauthorized suppliers just to increase profit margins. “In the process of trying to make more money, you are killing people.”
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A Strategy of Prevention
Rather than focusing solely on punishing small-scale market traders who may be unaware of the product’s origin, NAFDAC is focusing its resources on “choking” the source of production. By shutting down the illegal factories in Badagry and Oke-Arin, the agency expects the supply of these dangerous liquids to dry up in the coming weeks.
Mr. Iluyomade concluded with a plea for national conscience: “Everyone wants to make ends meet, but no Nigerian has the right to do so at the expense of another’s health. Do not spend the little money you save on a cheap product in a hospital bed later.”
