Ruth Kadiri Raises Alarm Over Circulation of Fake Products in Nigeria

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Nollywood actress and filmmaker Ruth Kadiri has raised public alarm over the circulation of fake, contaminated and poorly produced products in Nigeria after sharing a personal experience with garlic that changed colour. 

In a video posted on her Instagram page on October 4, 2026. and widely shared across social media and news platforms, the actress spoke directly to Nigerians about the health dangers posed by everyday items including food, drinks, medicines, cosmetics and household goods that consumers buy believing them to be safe. 

Ruth stated, “Dear Nigerians, I’m speaking to you today with a heavy heart and deep concern about the circulation of fake products in our country. Every day, people buy food, drinks, medicine, cosmetics, and household products believing that they are safe, but sadly, some are poorly produced, contaminated, harmful and mostly fake. This is not just a business problem; it’s a threat to human life. Imagine little children battling kidney failure.”

Ruth described buying garlic, blending it and returning shortly afterwards to find it had turned green, an experience she linked to wider fears about product safety. 

“I bought garlic, blended it, and went downstairs to get something, only for me to return and see the garlic colour had changed.” She added that she is “literally afraid of buying already packed drinks for my kids because I am scared of what the outcome of that drink will be.”

She expressed particular worry for children, warning of cases of kidney failure that she attributed to fake products, and said she is now hesitant to buy packaged drinks for her own children. The actress stressed that the problem is not merely commercial but a threat to human life, noting that many such items are produced locally for profit regardless of the consequences. 

She urged Nigerians who live near sites of suspected fake production to speak up and directly appealed to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to intensify efforts to protect public health. She urged people who produce and patronise fake products to desist, as doing so could save a child from kidney or heart failure, protect a family’s breadwinner, or even safeguard one’s own child, adding, 

“Never say it can never be you.” She appealed directly: “NAFDAC, please pay attention to the lives of Nigerians. Lots and lots of people are sick and are not getting better.”

Her message has renewed conversations about consumer safety and the challenges faced by families, especially parents responsible for daily purchases.