NAFDAC NABS FOOTBALLER FOR PRODUCING COUNTERFEIT CHEMICALS IN ABUJA

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BY OWOLABI OLUWADARA

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has apprehended a local footballer, Mr. Ikechukwu Elijah, in the Apo-Waru vicinity of Abuja for the production and distribution of unsafe, unregistered chemicals to the unsuspecting populace.

This information was revealed in a statement signed by NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Mr. Adegboyega Osiyemi, on Friday.

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Counterfeit and inferior products have consistently posed a significant public health risk in Nigeria.

NAFDAC has repeatedly cautioned that such items expose citizens to hazardous substances, endanger safety, and erode trust in regulated commodities.

According to the statement, NAFDAC indicated that the suspect manages an illicit factory within a residential structure in the area and is infamous for replicating well-known brands of chemicals and insecticides.

“Initially, when approached for questioning by detectives, he denied any involvement in chemical production in the area. He later admitted to the offense and acknowledged ownership of the unlawful facility following a comprehensive search conducted around the compound. The operation also resulted in the arrest of his younger brother inside the factory.

“The operation, led by the Desk Officer of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC and a member of the newly established Federal Taskforce on Counterfeit and Substandard Medicines and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Abuja, Mr. Embugushiki Godiya, culminated in the confiscation of manufacturing equipment such as sealing machines, high-capacity cylinders, and substantial chemical containers, in addition to the removal of all finished products from the facility,” it stated.

In a parallel operation, the team also uncovered and sealed an unauthorized water factory, MZEE Table Water, in the Damangaza district of Abuja for producing various brands of packaged water in unsanitary conditions with a fraudulent and expired license.

Further inquiries revealed that the factory lacked a certified borehole, water treatment system, or any of the necessary standards for a certified water facility.

“When the leader of the enforcement team, Mr. Godiya, reached out to the owner of MZEE Table Water, she asserted that her factory was registered and claimed she was in Gwagwalada at the time. None of the employees were present at the facility, except a co-tenant on the premises who observed the operation.

“As part of the ongoing effort, the team, acting on discreet intelligence, swiftly proceeded to a shopping plaza opposite the World Trade Centre on Constitution Avenue in the Central Business District of Abuja. There, they seized counterfeit rice and packaging materials, including sealing machines used to repackage popular brands for resale to the public.

“Mr. Godiya, who estimated the street value of the items confiscated during the operation at over N60 million, attributed the success of the initiative to the directives issued by the Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, instructing all field officers to ensure that Nigerians consume safe food and utilize effective medicines. ”

He urged Nigerians to refrain from patronizing products suspected of being fake, counterfeit, or unsatisfactory in order to diminish the demand for counterfeit goods.
He further emphasized that all individuals apprehended would be prosecuted in court in accordance with legal statutes.

Counterfeit and substandard goods have persistently posed a significant public health threat in Nigeria, resulting in repeated interventions by NAFDAC.

The agency has heightened its monitoring and enforcement activities in recent years, focusing on the manufacture and distribution of fraudulent medications, chemicals, food, and beverages that jeopardize lives and undermine consumer trust.

The NAFDAC Director-General has consistently cautioned that counterfeit and unregistered goods erode the economy, jeopardize legitimate enterprises, and can lead to fatalities. In response to this issue, the agency established the Federal Taskforce on Counterfeit and Substandard Medicines and Unsuitable Processed Foods to enhance coordination with law enforcement and intelligence networks.

Abuja, serving as a key distribution center, has experienced numerous enforcement actions in which NAFDAC uncovered illicit manufacturing facilities, confiscated unregistered chemicals, polluted water, and counterfeit food items.

The agency has urged Nigerian citizens to report dubious products and exclusively purchase NAFDAC-certified items to protect public health.