Lagos Perfume Vendors Protest NAFDAC Alleged Harassment, Shop Sealing At Trade Fair Market | Sahara Reporters

One of the vendors told SaharaReporters that NAFDAC officials frequently visit the market, move from one shop to another and seal businesses whose perfumes they claim are not registered.

Perfume vendors at the Trade Fair Market in Lagos State have protested against alleged harassment and repeated sealing of their shops by officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The vendors staged the protest on Thursday, according to a video obtained by SaharaReporters, where they accused NAFDAC officials of subjecting them to prolonged harassment over the registration of their perfume products.

One of the vendors told SaharaReporters that NAFDAC officials frequently visit the market, move from one shop to another and seal businesses whose perfumes they claim are not registered.

The source said the situation had been ongoing for about two years but had intensified in recent weeks.

“It’s NAFDAC disturbing perfume vendors in Trade Fair Lagos. Every time they will be coming to our market, going from one shop to another, locking our shops, telling us that our perfumes aren’t registered.

“If they lock up your shop, the least amount to be paid is N10million naira and it takes up to three months and more before the person’s shop will be opened.

“The harassment has been going on for the past two years. We have been enduring, but these past weeks have been hell for us.
“There was a protest in Trade Fair Market today, sir,” the source said.

In the video seen by SaharaReporters, the protesters could be heard chanting and demanding that the alleged harassment and sealing of perfume shops be stopped.

“Leave perfume sellers alone. Stop intimidating perfume sellers. Stop sealing our shops. Let perfume vendors breathe. Leave us alone,” the protesters chanted.

The vendors alleged that the repeated sealing of shops and financial demands were making it increasingly difficult for them to operate their businesses.

NAFDAC is responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale and use of regulated products in Nigeria, including cosmetics and other related products.

However, the perfume vendors are demanding that the agency adopt what they described as a fair and less punitive approach to enforcement while allowing them to continue their businesses.

NAFDAC’s response to the allegations was not immediately available as of the time of filing this report.