NAFDAC SHUTS 16 SACHET WATER FACTORIES IN RIVERS OVER LICENSING, HYGIENE VIOLATIONS
Read Time:2 Minute, 6 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has shut down 16 sachet water factories in Rivers State over various violations, including operating without valid licences and poor hygienic conditions.
The enforcement operation was carried out by officials of the agency across four local government areas of the state.
Director of NAFDAC’s South-South Zone, Chukwuma Oligbu, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The statement, signed by Cyril Monye, Public Relations Officer of the South-South Zone, said the operation covered Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Degema and Ikwerre local government areas.
According to the agency, the affected factories were shut down for offences ranging from expired licences and labelling infractions to unhygienic production environments and use of substandard filtration methods.
“The operation which was carried out in the four LGAs led to the closure of 16 sachet water factories while their owners were invited to the NAFDAC office,” the statement read.
Among the affected factories were Obra Bo Table Water in Abalama, Asari-Toru LGA; Loilia Table Water in Okpo, Degema LGA; Jima Table Water and Inye Table Water in Obuama Harry Town, Degema LGA.
Others included Obuta Table Water, S.P. Nimi Table Water, Soaltam Table Water, Piasso Table Water, Imumsco Table Water, Granpa Table Water, Daa Ajuka Table Water, and Diob Table Water.
In Ikwerre LGA, four factories identified as AQUA-TOBSON Table Water, DUCO Table Water, CHISODEK Table Water, and NEO BRAIN Table Water were also shut down.
Oligbu revealed that some of the factories were operating under unsafe and unhygienic conditions, including the use of dirty filters and handkerchiefs as filtration materials.
He also warned operators against siting factories within filling stations, stressing that such practices violate NAFDAC regulations and could attract permanent closure.
The director cautioned producers of sachet water against manufacturing unregistered products and urged operators with expired licences to renew them immediately or risk prosecution.
He further warned that obstructing NAFDAC officials during lawful enforcement operations constitutes an offence punishable under the law.
Oligbu reiterated that the agency would continue to intensify surveillance and enforcement activities across the state to eliminate the production and circulation of unsafe regulated products.
He also urged members of the public to report suspicious or unwholesome production activities to the agency for prompt intervention.
NAFDAC has in recent years intensified nationwide enforcement operations aimed at curbing the circulation of unsafe food, beverages and counterfeit regulated products, particularly sachet water produced under poor sanitary conditions.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0