PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a group in Rivers State allegedly distributing fake drugs under the guise of a religious evangelism programme.
Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, May 19, 2025, in Port Harcourt, Mr Chukwuma Oligbu, NAFDAC’s South-South Zonal Director, said the syndicate was apprehended at Abuloma Community Town Hall, where they had been conducting unlicensed medical outreach and selling unregistered products to unsuspecting members of the public.
According to Oligbu, the group was caught administering one of the suspected fake products on a local resident when NAFDAC officials intervened.
The agency subsequently evacuated the products for further investigation and analysis.
The unregistered products, marketed as miracle cures, included “Evangelist Jenkins Supernatural Water,” “Evangelist Jenkins Cleanser,” and “Evangelist Jenkins Eye Drop.”
The group reportedly claimed these items could cure a wide range of ailments including gastrointestinal diseases, cancer, arthritis, fibroids, cataracts, and glaucoma.
“These products have no lists of ingredients, no NAFDAC registration numbers, no manufacturer’s name and address, and no expiry dates,” Oligbu stated.
He added that users of the so-called eye drops had begun experiencing adverse effects, including swollen eyes, which the group misleadingly claimed was proof of the drug’s efficacy.
The group reportedly charged as much as ₦5,000 per drug, despite posing as providers of free medical treatment.
“They give consultancy cards to people and collect not less than ₦5,000 for each of the drugs. This is not good,” Oligbu said.
He assured that the products would undergo laboratory testing to determine their chemical composition, and that appropriate legal action would be taken against those responsible.
Oligbu warned the public against patronising individuals or groups distributing unregistered medicinal products under the guise of religious or humanitarian missions.
He urged citizens to verify product authenticity through NAFDAC channels and to report suspicious activity using the agency’s toll-free numbers: 09097630507 and 09097630508.
“We are committed to ridding the state of fake drugs,” Oligbu affirmed.
“We urge the public to collaborate with us by availing us of reliable intelligence to track down those involved in this unwholesome practice.”
