Counterfeit Coglaet Toothpaste Sparks Nationwide Mop-Up by NAFDAC
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a nationwide surveillance and mop-up operation following the discovery of unregistered and suspected counterfeit toothpaste products bearing the “Coglaet” brand in Kaduna State, in what the agency describes as a potential risk to public health and safety.
The development stems from a complaint received by the agency‘s Post-Marketing Surveillance (PMS) Directorate regarding the distribution of a suspected counterfeit Colgate toothpaste. Upon investigation, a team of PMS officers visited a retail outlet in Kaduna where they found two products — “Coglaet ActivGel 100g” and “Coglaet Herbal 100g” — on sale. The agency issued Public Alert No. 022/2026 on March 25, 2026, to formally notify the public.
According to NAFDAC, the shop owner informed investigators that the products were purchased from a door-to-door sales representative but was unable to provide any proof of purchase. “These products have not met the required regulatory standards for registration and quality assurance, thereby posing a potential risk to public health and safety,” the agency stated.
Both products list Guangzhou YECAI Oral Cleaning Products Co., Ltd, located in Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China, as the manufacturer. However, the packaging carries no batch numbers and no NAFDAC registration numbers — clear red flags under Nigeria’s product safety regulations. The items show manufacturing dates of August 2025 and expiry dates of August 2029, indicating they were intended for a four-year shelf life.
NAFDAC confirmed that the products have been removed from circulation at the identified outlet, while investigations are ongoing to track the distributors behind the unregistered and counterfeit items. All zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to conduct surveillance and remove any such products found within their jurisdictions.
The agency has urged distributors, retailers, and consumers to exercise caution, verify product authenticity and physical condition before purchase or use, and report any suspicious items to the nearest NAFDAC office. Reports can also be made via the toll-free line 0800-162-3322 or by email to sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng. Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report any adverse effects through the agency’s official channels or the Med-Safety mobile application.
The counterfeit toothpaste alert comes against a broader backdrop of regulatory enforcement in Nigeria’s personal care market. In August 2025, NAFDAC seized over 10,000 cartons of unregistered tomato paste and cosmetic products during a five-day operation at the Lagos Trade Fair market. In September 2025, the agency intercepted fake cosmetics valued at over N500 million from a military market in Lagos. In December 2025, NAFDAC destroyed more than 618 tonnes of fake, counterfeit, substandard, and expired products valued at N10.19 billion in Kano.
The North-West Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Mr. Dadi Nantim Mullah, stated during the Kano destruction exercise that the prevalence of unregistered, fake, and counterfeit products had dropped significantly nationwide from about 46 per cent to less than six per cent, attributing the improvement to increased enforcement activities and inter-agency collaboration.
The African beauty and personal care market is projected to reach US$69.53 billion in 2025, driven by urbanisation, a youthful population, and rising disposable incomes growth that experts say has also attracted counterfeiters seeking to exploit regulatory gaps.