….Arrests Managers, Extends Raid to Supermarkets in Minna
….Agency Vows Tough Sanctions as Probe Continues
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed 18 warehouses in Bida, Niger State, following the discovery of expired food and beverage products valued at over ₦100 million.
The enforcement action, carried out by the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, was triggered by credible intelligence on the storage and planned distribution of substandard consumables within the state.
In a statement signed by Sayo Akintola, Resident Media Consultant said the affected warehouses are located around Ndazabo White House along Minna Road and behind the Bida Modern Market in Bida, a commercial hub in Niger State.
During the raid, NAFDAC officials uncovered large quantities of expired consumables, some of which had already been repackaged and prepared for distribution to unsuspecting consumers.
Items recovered included expired non-alcoholic beverages, dairy milk, candies, bottled water and pasta, raising serious public health concerns.
According to the agency, about 80,000 packets of expired non-alcoholic drinks were found in the warehouses, alongside 5,000 packets of dairy milk and 16,000 packets of bottled water.
Officials also seized 28 cartons of pasta and other assorted expired products during the operation.
NAFDAC said the scale of the discovery points to a coordinated attempt to reintroduce expired products into the market for public consumption.
Managers of the affected warehouses were arrested on the spot and taken in for interrogation as part of ongoing investigations.
Preliminary findings, the agency disclosed, linked the warehouses to a company identified as BY Ventures.
Following this development, enforcement officers extended their operation to supermarkets in Minna reportedly owned by the same company.
In the course of the expanded raid, additional expired food items were discovered on the shelves of the supermarkets.
Officials also uncovered suspected counterfeit Goya oil products, further compounding the alleged violations.
Both supermarkets were immediately sealed to prevent further sales pending the outcome of investigations.
The Managing Director of the company, Alhaji Yusuf Nadabo, was invited for questioning by the agency.
During interrogation, he reportedly admitted ownership of the expired products found in the warehouses and supermarkets.
NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health and ensuring that only safe, wholesome and quality products are available to Nigerians.
The agency warned that the distribution and sale of expired or counterfeit food products constitute serious offences under existing regulatory laws.
It assured that appropriate regulatory sanctions would be imposed on those found culpable at the conclusion of investigations.
NAFDAC further stressed that the enforcement exercise serves as a deterrent to individuals and companies engaged in the circulation of substandard and expired goods.
The agency urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious food and drug activities in their communities.
It also advised consumers to always check expiry dates and verify product authenticity before purchase.
The latest crackdown underscores NAFDAC’s intensified surveillance operations across the country aimed at sanitising the food and beverage market.
Industry stakeholders have described the development as a wake-up call for operators to strictly adhere to safety and regulatory standards.
As investigations continue, the agency has vowed to pursue the case to its logical conclusion to reinforce consumer confidence and protect public health.
