The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken decisive action against substandard and unregistered bakeries and water factories in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State. During a three-day operation supported by the police, NAFDAC officials shut down 10 bakeries and eight table water factories, citing concerns over fake and unwholesome products being produced.
According to Mr. Cyril Monye, the Public Relations Officer for NAFDAC’s South-South Zone, some of the factories were found to be operating in unhygienic environments, despite bearing the names of popular brands in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The Director of NAFDAC’s South-South Zone, Chukwuma Oligbo, explained that the crackdown followed meticulous investigations, surveillance, and consumer complaints regarding substandard products from the island. Several of the bakeries were discovered to be producing bread in substandard facilities with inappropriate equipment and poor hygiene practices.
Oligbo highlighted that some bakeries were operating without NAFDAC registration or had expired licenses. Additionally, some table water factories were found to be lacking essential filtration equipment, while others used manual filling processes instead of automated ones.
The statement emphasized that NAFDAC is committed to guiding producers in complying with regulations and encouraged those with expired licenses to take advantage of the waiver provided by the Director General for license renewal. However, Oligbo warned of consequences for those who intentionally flout NAFDAC regulations.
The operation extended beyond bakeries and water factories to pharmacies and supermarkets, where various violations, including the sale of unregistered products and unsafe storage of injections, were discovered.