NAFDAC SHUTS SIX ILLEGAL PACKAGED WATER FACTORIES IN ZARIA
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control said on Thursday in Kaduna that it has shut down six factories in Zaria for allegedly producing and selling unregistered packaged water to unsuspecting people of the state.
NAFDAC Unit Head in Kaduna State, Mr. Innocent Ahemen said in a statement signed by its North West Zone Public Relations Officer, Jessica Okwuchi and made available to newsmen that the illegal packaged water factories were closed down after the agency raided them following a tip-off.
According to Ahemen, the owners of the illegal packaged water factories were currently undergoing further interrogation and would soon be prosecuted.
The NAFDAC statement further said: 'Six water production outfits in Zaria were raided and closed down for producing and selling unregistered packaged water to unsuspecting members of public. The raid was facilitated by the Agency's surveillance operation. The Kaduna unit head and his staff swung into action leading to the arrest and closure of the illegal water production outfits that have refused to register with the Agency. The factory owners are undergoing further investigation and will be prosecuted.'
It added that enlightenment campaign was carried out at the factories to create public awareness on the dangers of consuming such unregistered packaged water, warning other producers of packaged water and other products regulated by NAFDAC but were still operating illegally to desist as they risked prosecution if discovered.
NAFDAC also advised producers relocating their factories to another location to notify the agency before doing so even if their products were registered.
He also cautioned other registered factories on cleanliness, stressing that all the illegal factories raided and closed down were operating in unhygienic environment.
In another development, NAFDAC officials also stormed some bakeries in Kaduna metropolis. The statement said that although potassium bromate was not found to be in use in any of the bakeries, they were advised to observe more hygiene.
The NAFDAC Kaduna unit head said that it had now become mandatory to register bread baked for the consumption of the public.
'Bakeries producing unregistered bread would be closed down and those still using potassium bromate will be appropriately dealt with because the product is banned and has serious health hazards,' the statement further warned.