There was pandemonium at the Trade Fair International Market, Lagos, on Thursday, October 30, 2025, following a clash between officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and cosmetics traders.
The Trade Fair International Market, located along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, is one of West Africa’s largest commercial hubs and a major centre for wholesale distribution of cosmetics and imported goods.
An eyewitness told First Daily correspondent that the unrest began when NAFDAC officials entered the market to inspect and seize suspected unregistered cosmetic products.
The operation reportedly met resistance from some traders, who began throwing stones at the enforcement team.
In the chaos that followed, a NAFDAC vehicle was damaged after its glass was allegedly smashed by the traders’ stones.
The situation escalated as officials reportedly responded by firing gunshots into the air and releasing tear gas to disperse the crowd.
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As tension spread across the market, the chairman of Trade Fair International Market, Hon. Oscar Ikechukwu Paul Odogwu, was said to have ordered an immediate closure of shops for safety reasons.
By 3 p.m., eyewitnesses said most plazas had shut down, and many traders were seen leaving the premises.
Attempts to reach NAFDAC’s Lagos office for comment were unsuccessful as of press time, and market authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.