The Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Lagos, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration aimed at improving criminal investigations and curbing the circulation of counterfeit and substandard regulated products across the country.
The renewed commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of FCID Annex, Lagos, AIG Simeon U. Akpanudom, to the NAFDAC Directorate of Investigation and Enforcement in Lagos, where he was received by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, alongside members of the agency’s management team.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, FCID Annex, Lagos, ASP Mayegun Aminat, the AIG commended the longstanding working relationship between the Nigeria Police Force and NAFDAC, describing inter-agency cooperation as vital in combating the growing threat of counterfeit food, drugs, beverages, cosmetics and other regulated products.
He stressed that sustained collaboration, particularly in the area of capacity development, remains essential for equipping investigators with the skills needed to address emerging criminal trends.
As part of the partnership, AIG Akpanudom presented a proposed training programme for NAFDAC personnel, which will be facilitated by a five-member team from FCID Annex led by the Commissioner of Police, Forensics, DCP (Dr.) Agbo. The team will work with NAFDAC officials to finalise the logistics, venue and schedule for the exercise.
The police chief also requested that officers from FCID Annex be included among the participants, noting that continuous learning is critical to effective policing.
He explained that the training would focus on forensic science, investigative techniques, public health protection and strategies for combating counterfeit and substandard regulated products, adding that the initiative would strengthen investigative capacity while enhancing public safety.
According to him, the proliferation of fake and substandard products poses significant risks to public health, national security and economic development, and commended NAFDAC for its unwavering efforts in protecting Nigerians.
He further assured the agency of the Nigeria Police Force’s continued support in enforcing relevant laws, investigating offenders and ensuring successful prosecution.
Responding, Dr. Iluyomade expressed appreciation to the AIG and his delegation for the visit, describing the proposed training as timely, comprehensive and consistent with NAFDAC’s objective of improving professionalism and operational efficiency.
He disclosed that the training is expected to commence in Lagos within the next few weeks and noted that the participation of FCID officers would enrich the programme through the exchange of investigative knowledge and expertise.
The NAFDAC director observed that criminal networks involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit products continue to adopt more sophisticated methods, making stronger collaboration among law enforcement and regulatory agencies increasingly important.
He also revealed that NAFDAC enjoys the support of several local and international partners committed to strengthening regulatory enforcement and capacity building, expressing confidence that the partnership with FCID Annex would improve intelligence sharing, investigations and prosecution of offenders.
Dr. Iluyomade further advocated greater collaboration in expanding the database of convicted offenders to aid the tracking of repeat offenders involved in counterfeit-related crimes.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director of the Cosmetics Directorate, Mr. Ugwu Declan, commended AIG Akpanudom for his consistent support and cooperation with NAFDAC, particularly in joint investigations handled with the Special Investigation Department.
He described the synergy between the Nigeria Police Force and NAFDAC as instrumental in disrupting criminal activities linked to counterfeit and substandard regulated products.
The visit ended with the management of NAFDAC celebrating the birthday of AIG Akpanudom. In appreciation of the strong partnership between both institutions, the police chief presented a commemorative plaque to the Directorate, reaffirming FCID Annex’s commitment to strengthening collaboration in the interest of national security, public health and economic growth.
