From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut two chinese supermarkets located in the Jabi District and eight cosmetics shops at Wuse Market, Abuja, confiscating and evacuated products worth over N170 million.
NAFDAC, in a statement on Friday, explained that the action was as a result of flagrant violation of extant laws governing the sale, distribution, and labelling of regulated products in Nigeria.
The statement indicated that the supermarkets situated on Mike Akhigbe Way and Ebitu Ukiwe Street in Jabi District, Abuja, were sealed following credible consumer complaints and subsequent surveillance by NAFDAC Enforcement Team.
Investigations revealed that the operators of the chinese supermarkets were engaged in the sale of unregistered food items and products labelled exclusively in chinese language, contrary to NAFDAC’s mandatory labelling policy requiring English translations for the Nigerian market and regulatory understanding.
“Despite initial resistance and denials by the foreign nationals at Ebitu street that the supermarket is yet to commence operation, the enforcement team confirmed that the outlet was in full operation and selling unregistered regulated products,” it added.
In a related operation, NAFDAC said that eight cosmetics shops within Wuse Market were also sealed for the sale of banned, expired, and unregistered cosmetics, aphrodisiacs, and aesthetic medicines.
The Agency said that investigations revealed that certain individuals had been illegally presenting themselves as dermatologists and pharmacists, prescribing and selling harmful products to unsuspecting consumers under the guise of body enhancement, skin whitening, aesthetic improvement for ladies and manpower for men.
“Some of the cosmetics products seized include Wenicks Capsules, Maxman Capsules, Boobs Enlargement, Curvy Weight Gain, Skin Whitening Vitamin Gummies, Collagen, Royal Jelly, Glutathone Whitening Gummies, White doll, Dr. Gallery Plus, Maiz Zaki Syrup, Original Herbal Yellow fever, Sickle Cell Medicine, Dr. Nafisa Herbal Medicine, Dynewell Syrup, White Blinks, and so on,” the Agency added.
Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in her reaction reiterated the Agency’s mandate to protect the health of Nigerians against exposure to dangerous chemicals and toxic substances which are linked to serious health risks, including skin cancer, kidney damage, irritability, and memory loss.
She reaffirmed commitment to enforcing compliance with NAFDAC regulations and advised Nigerian consumers to patronize only products duly registered by NAFDAC.
She also encouraged foreign nationals and investors intending to import or market products in Nigeria to visit NAFDAC offices nationwide for product registration and regulatory guidance, and urged members of the public to report suspicious sales outlets or products to the nearest NAFDAC offices.
“NAFDAC welcomes legitimate trade partnerships from both Nigerians and foreign nationals, but we will not compromise on public health. Any act of selling unregistered or toxic products shall be met with strict regulatory action,” she warned.
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