Addressing journalists shortly after the raid which took
place in various markets in Lagos by the enforcement
team of NAFDAC, Deputy Director, Investigation &
Enforcement Directorate, Mr. Francis Ononiwu decried
the influx of imported fruit juices in the country, blaming
it on the absence of the Agency’s staff at the ports.
According to him, the Federal Government as a matter
of urgency should reconsider bringing NAFDAC back to
the ports in order to drastically reduce fake, counterfeit
and imported banned products into the country.
“We are all aware that most of these products come
through the sea ports and NAFDAC is not on ground
there, definitely, we cannot effectively stop the products
from entering. That is a major challenge. If we are there
the quantity will be much more reduced or eliminated.
Federal government should reconsider taking NAFDAC
back to the ports”
Ononiwu explained that the mop –up exercise is
ongoing nationwide, not only to meet the deadline for
the exercise but also to create an enabling environment
for local manufacturers of fruit juices in the country.
“These imported products are not registered by
NAFDAC; they are unwholesome and fake and have
been banned by the Federal Government. We don’t
expect to see imported fruit juices in our markets today
because we have enough fruit juice manufactured and
produced here.
RAID: NAFDAC officials mopping up imported fruit juice
from De Prince Supermarket, Agbada area of Lagos last
week.
We are also trying to protect our local industry as well
as encouraged them to utilise our farm produces
thereby boosting our economy.”
Warning consumers against such products, he said
since they were not produced under supervised Good
Manufacturing Practice, they are harmful to the health
of consumers.
Ononiwu hinted that those arrested would be punished
in line with the appropriate sanctions stipulated in the
Agency’s regulations.
Speaking during the exercise at Gbagada area of Lagos,
Team Leader also from the Investigation and
Enforcement Directorate, Mr. Carolly Ngobiri, said the
exercise was in line with a circular of Dec. 19 from the
Directorate, directing that an urgent visit to all markets
and supermarkets in all states, be embarked upon, to
mop-up these items.
“We are here to carry out one of NAFDAC’s mandate; to
make sure that that all foreign juices are removed from
the market. We have given them a deadline from now
to Dec. 31 to stop their sales and remove them from
the shelves.
“But in order to ensure that these are totally removed,
we have started mopping up all the juices all over the
country. “By Dec. 31, we do not want to see any
imported juice in Nigeria.
“At these places that we have gone to carry out our
assignment, we have taken the items, documented
them and invited the owners to come to our office for
further interrogation.
The NAFDAC official advised all consumers to check all
the date markings of which include the production and
expiry dates, as well as NAFDAC registration number of
each of the products, before purchase.
