"Fake Products Are Killing Nigerians" — Ruth Kadiri Raises Alarm

Nollywood actress and producer Ruth Kadiri has raised an urgent alarm over the circulation of fake and harmful products in Nigeria, describing it as a threat to human life.

In a recent video posted on her Instagram page, she expressed deep concern about the increasing rate at which Nigerians are buying food, drinks, medicine, cosmetics, and household products that are poorly produced, contaminated, and dangerous.

She noted that the problem is not just a business issue but a life-threatening one, explaining that a sick person who goes to the pharmacy for medication may end up worse than before.

She further linked the rising cases of kidney failures in children to the consumption of fake products, asking where the increasing health problems are coming from.

The movie star revealed that she is now afraid of buying already packed drinks for her children because she is unsure of the outcome. She emphasised that the problem is not just about buying but about the fact that most of these products are created and produced in Nigeria by Nigerians who prioritise profit over the health and lives of their fellow citizens.

She called on everyone to speak up if they live in an environment where fake products are being produced, noting that doing so could save a child from kidney or heart failure, save a family from losing a breadwinner, or even save one's own child. She urged parents and guardians to pay attention to expiry dates and NAFDAC numbers, and called on NAFDAC to pay attention to the lives of Nigerians.

She also warned those dealing in fake products that they will be caught and treated as criminals, describing them as worse than killers. She called on the authorities to carry out stricter inspections of manufacturing and product companies, ensure swift and just punishment for offenders, and avoid taking bribes from companies producing harmful products, warning that it could be their own children consuming them.

"Dear Nigerians, I'm speaking to you today with a heavy heart and deep concern about the circulation of fake products in our country today. Every day, people buy food, drinks, medicine, cosmetics products, household products, believing that they are safe. But sadly, they are poorly produced, contaminated, harmful, and mostly fake. This is not just a business problem. It's a threat to human life. A sick person goes to the pharmacy to get medication, hoping to get better, but gets worse. Sometimes, we see lots of children dealing with kidney failures, and we ask ourselves, where is this increasing problems coming from? Fake products. I bought garlic, blended it, went upstairs and came back, my garlic had turned green. A whole lot of other people with their experiences. I'm literally afraid of buying already packed drinks for my kids, because I'm scared what the outcome of the product of that drink might be."

"And it's not just a buying problem. It is a we problem. Most of those products are created, produced in our country, by our people, destroying lives and health of our people, regardless of what they have to lose as long as they make money. That is why we all have to come as a people. If you live in an environment where fake products are created, please speak up. Please speak up. You might be saving a child from kidney failure. You might be saving a child from heart failure. And you may be saving a family from losing the life of their benefactor. You might be saving your own child. Never say it can never be me."

"To parents, to guardians, please pay attention to expiry date. Pay attention to NavDak numbers. NavDak, please pay attention to the life of Nigerians. Lots and lots of people are sick and are not getting better because the cost of fake product, the cost of fake medicine is much more than we can ever ask or think. Let us be our brother's keeper in this time. Let us all put our voices together to discuss and let us all fight fakeness out of our system. The era of keeping quiet when they ask you how you made your money is no longer. We have passed that stage. If you deal on fake products, you rest assured that you will be caught and you'll be treated like a criminal. In fact, a higher killer that you are."

"And to the authorities, we need stricter inspections to manufacturing companies, to product companies, so that the lives of Nigerians, including yours, can be saved. And all those who are found wanting their punishment be done swiftly and justly. Please close your eyes and do not take bribe to companies that produce these things because it might just be your child consuming it. You don't have control over what goes into the market. Those who live in glass houses do not throw stones. Please and please and let us all put our voices together and see how we can fight this out of our country. It's already bad enough. It's already bad enough. I'm sad and that's why I'm making these videos. Thank you so much. One Nigeria, one love, one better product."