The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced it is taking legal action in response to false and misleading allegations of financial inducement tied to a herbal product, Lung Detox Tea (also known as Lungitox or Smokers Pride). The allegations were made in a video that has been circulating widely.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, refuted the claims, emphasizing that they were baseless and unfounded. She clarified that the agency does not have any connection to the product in question, as it was not registered by NAFDAC. Adeyeye stated that while such allegations would normally be ignored, the agency’s Legal Services Directorate is currently reviewing the situation to take the appropriate legal action.

“We categorically refute these claims as false, baseless, and completely unfounded. NAFDAC has never approved, registered, or permitted the sale of Lung Detox Tea or any similar product,” Adeyeye affirmed. She further stressed that NAFDAC will never endorse any product that lacks scientific validation or poses a risk to public health, urging the public to disregard the misleading video and avoid purchasing unregistered products.

In related developments, NAFDAC also announced the Eziukwu Market in Aba, Abia State as a center for the production and distribution of fake and substandard products. During an operation led by Martins Iluyomade, Director of NAFDAC’s South-East Zone, it was revealed that the market remained a major hub for counterfeit goods despite previous crackdowns. Iluyomade described the situation as a serious public health threat, akin to “weapons of mass destruction.”

He expressed concern over the persistence of illegal activities, stating that the market’s leadership had signed an undertaking in December 2023 to expose those involved in the illicit trade of fake products. However, the recent discovery of expired products being re-validated raised new alarm bells.

Consumers have been urged to be vigilant and cautious when purchasing products, especially those from sources with dubious reputations, to avoid jeopardizing their health. NAFDAC has vowed to continue its operations and hold market leaders accountable for failing to comply with prior agreements.