Former Big Brother Naija housemate Leo DaSilva has sounded the alarm over the alarming proliferation of counterfeit consumer goods in Nigeria’s retail sector. He shared a deeply personal experience with dilution-of-trust in everyday essentials:

“The amount of fake drugs, fake deodorants, fake toothpaste and fake skincare in Nigeria is ridiculous.”

Over the past month, Leo disclosed that he unknowingly purchased multiple counterfeit items, including:

– Cod liver oil

– Gestid (prenatal supplement)

– Sensodyne toothpaste

– Simple face wash

– Deodorant

– Mouthwash

These recurring incidents led him to urgently call for action from NAFDAC, Nigeria’s regulatory body for drug and product safety.

Leo wants several critical steps implemented to tackle the problem effectively:

– Immediate raids on major supermarkets in Abuja

– Stricter enforcement to ensure authenticity of health and personal care products

Updates to Nigeria’s counterfeit regulations, including stronger legal penalties