The Bayelsa State Government has raised concerns over the growing circulation of counterfeit drugs, beverages, and cosmetic products across local markets, warning that the trend poses serious health risks to residents.
Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mr. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, described the development as a “public health emergency” that demands urgent attention from both government agencies and the public.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while speaking in Yenagoa on Sunday, Koku-Obiyai disclosed that several ministries and regulatory bodies had intensified surveillance to curb the spread of harmful products.
She listed the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health, the Environmental Sanitation Authority, and the Consumer Protection Unit of the Ministry of Trade and Investment as agencies currently involved in enforcement.
According to her, arrests have already been made, with some offenders facing prosecution. Confiscated goods, she added, are being destroyed to safeguard citizens from exposure to harmful substances.
“Environmental Sanitation Authority is already in court with some of the people who are selling these fake drugs, fake drinks and other fake items and those fake goods were confiscated,” she explained.
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“The Ministry of Environment they went out for their normal checks. When they got to Swali market, they saw soft drinks, body cream, hair relaxer that are all fake and expired.”
Drawing from her professional background as a nurse, Koku-Obiyai linked the rise in liver, kidney, and lung complications to the consumption of adulterated products.
She noted that chemicals found in fake drugs and beverages often attack vital organs, while substandard creams and lotions are easily absorbed into the bloodstream.
She urged residents to be cautious while shopping, stressing the need to verify expiry dates, NAFDAC numbers, and packaging details before making purchases. She also advised buyers to be wary of unusually cheap items, which could indicate counterfeiting.
“If an item is far cheaper than its normal price, that should raise a red flag. The same applies to the water we drink—some bottled or sachet water is produced under unsafe conditions,” the commissioner warned.
Koku-Obiyai assured that the government is committed to sustaining its clampdown on counterfeiters and encouraged members of the public to report suspicious products, promising that whistle-blowers’ identities would remain confidential.
“We have addressed the press on that, alerting the people that in case you see anything like that, approach the Ministry of Trade,” she said.
