By Maryanne Awuya, Abuja
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed two Chinese supermarkets and eight cosmetics shops in Abuja for violating Nigeria’s food and drug regulations.
According to a statement released on Friday, October 3, by NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Adegboyega Osiyemi, obtained by Persecondnews, the closure was necessary due to breaches of national laws governing the sale, distribution, and labelling of products in Nigeria.
“Acting on the directive of the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the enforcement team confiscated and evacuated offending products worth over N170m,” it stated.
The agency stated that the operation was conducted by NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate in collaboration with members of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Substandard Medicines and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Abuja.
The task force was led by Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer, Musa Embugushiki.
According to NAFDAC, the outlets were sealed after receiving credible consumer complaints and conducting surveillance, which revealed the sale of unregistered food items and products labelled exclusively in Chinese.
This practice contravenes NAFDAC’s labelling policy, which requires English translations for products sold in Nigeria.
The statement also reads: “The supermarkets, located on Mike Akhigbe Way and Ebitu Ukiwe Street in Jabi District Abuja.
“The foreign national at Ebitu Street initially denied saying the supermarket was yet to commence operation, but the enforcement team confirmed that the outlet was in full operation and selling unregistered products.
“In a related operation, eight cosmetics shops within Wuse Market were also sealed for the sale of banned, expired, and unregistered cosmetics, aphrodisiacs, and aesthetic medicines.
“More Investigations showed 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 women, and manpower for men.”
The confiscated products included a range of unapproved and potentially hazardous items, such as Wenicks Capsules, Maxman Capsules, various body enhancement and skin whitening products, herbal remedies for yellow fever and sickle cell disease, and other medicines not approved by NAFDAC.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, 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 urged Nigerians to purchase only NAFDAC-registered products and advised foreign investors to ensure their goods are properly registered before being marketed in Nigeria.
NAFDAC, however, reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing regulatory compliance.
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