The agency placed affected premises on hold after a two-day operation at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo and collected product samples for investigation

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) sealed several shops and business premises at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos State, on August 26 and 27, 2026, after its enforcement officers identified suspected unregistered cosmetic products during a two-day regulatory operation.

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The enforcement exercise was carried out by NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Cosmetics Division, as part of efforts to remove specified unregistered cosmetics from circulation and protect consumers from products that have not met the required regulatory standards. (Punch Newspapers)

NAFDAC said the affected premises were locked and marked with its official “NAFDAC HOLD” labels pending further regulatory action.

Samples of the suspected products were also collected for further investigation, while invitation letters were issued to the owners and operators of the affected businesses for questioning and other regulatory proceedings. (Punch Newspapers)

Among the premises affected were Vincentmo World, opposite Bmeck Plaza, Private Plaza; Amazon City of Fragrance at Shops 37 and 38, Beauty Promise Land Plaza; and Aza-King Store Perfumes, opposite Fidelity Bank.

Other businesses listed by the agency included PP2 & Fragrance International Ltd, trading as Design Perfumes & Cosmetics; No. D12 Fragrance Doctor Shop at Abia Plaza; and God & Obaino Fragrance Store, opposite Wave Plaza.

NAFDAC said other shops and business premises within the Trade Fair Complex were also affected by the operation.

The agency’s action does not, at this stage, amount to a finding that the individual business owners are guilty of an offence. The affected products are being investigated, while the operators have been invited to respond to the regulatory concerns.

The Trade Fair Complex, situated along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, is one of Lagos’s major commercial centres, with businesses dealing in cosmetics, fragrances, fashion items and a broad range of imported consumer goods.

The latest enforcement highlights the particular regulatory challenges posed by the cosmetics market, where products can move quickly from importers and wholesalers to retailers and consumers.

Under NAFDAC’s published guidelines, cosmetics manufactured, imported, advertised, sold or distributed in Nigeria are required to be registered with the agency. (NAFDAC)

NAFDAC’s labelling regulations also require cosmetic products to carry a valid NAFDAC registration number, alongside other prescribed information intended to help consumers identify and use products appropriately. (NAFDAC)

The agency has repeatedly warned that unregistered regulated products can create significant public health concerns because their safety, quality and composition may not have been assessed through the required regulatory process.

NAFDAC’s broader mandate includes preventing the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale and advertisement of unregistered cosmetics and other regulated products in Nigeria. (NAFDAC)

The Ojo operation is not an isolated intervention at the Trade Fair Complex.

Earlier in 2026, NAFDAC reported uncovering suspected counterfeit and unregistered cosmetic products valued at more than N3 billion at the APT Trade Fair Complex in Lagos.

The agency has also conducted other enforcement operations in the area as part of its efforts to remove non-compliant products from the market. (Nairametrics)

The repeated attention on the commercial hub reflects the scale of its trading activities and the need for sustained monitoring of products entering the retail chain.

For legitimate traders, the enforcement also underscores the importance of maintaining proper documentation and ensuring that products offered for sale have satisfied the relevant registration and labelling requirements.

For consumers, the operation serves as another reminder to check the regulatory status and labelling of cosmetics before purchasing or using them, particularly where products make claims relating to skin treatment, lightening or other health-related effects.

NAFDAC has not disclosed the outcome of the laboratory examination of the samples collected during the August 26 and 27 operation.

The agency is expected to determine the next regulatory steps after completing its investigation and questioning the affected operators.

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For now, the sealed premises remain under NAFDAC’s hold, marking another significant intervention by the regulator as it works to keep potentially non-compliant cosmetic products away from Nigerian consumers.