NAFDAC impounds N50m unregistered products in Lagos

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has confiscated goods worth N50m from major supermarkets, open markets and suspected warehouses in Lagos State.

Among the markets where the goods were impounded are the popular Oke-Arin, Balogun, Idumota, Mushin and Oshodi markets. Trade Fair Complex; and some major supermarkets located in the Apapa, Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Ajah areas were also affected.

Apart from the markets, some suspected warehouses in Isolo, Badagry expressway and motor garages and loading parks were also visited during the three-day exercise.

A statement by the agency on Monday said, “During the exercise, products of various ranges worth over N50m were confiscated while the warehouses were sealed and three trailers suspected to be loaded with unregistered regulated products were equally impounded.

“The three-day exercise which took most of the shop owners by surprise coupled with the presence of stern looking security operatives was a huge success.”

Director, Enforcement Directorate of the Agency, Mr. Garba Macdonald, said the exercise was to ascertain the level of compliance of the products in circulation.

He said it became imperative to storm the locations because surveillance earlier carried out indicted the places visited.

He confirmed that the products confiscated would be subjected to further laboratory analysis before final decision could be taken.

“Field reports indicated that most of the products were smuggled into the country from the neighbouring countries and those arrested or invited will be of help to furnish us with useful information that will assist to forestall future occurrence,” he added.

Source: Punch*