Omotayo Fashola
(NAFDAC enforcement team in action. Source: Vanguard News)
In a decisive clampdown on substandard production, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed 16 illegal sachet water facilities across Rivers State. The crackdown targeted factories in Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Degema, and Ikwerre local government areas following rigorous inspections.
The agency’s South-South Zonal Director, Chukwuma Oligbu, disclosed the development in a Friday press release from Port Harcourt, issued by the zone’s spokesperson, Cyril Monye.
Inspections revealed egregious regulatory breaches, including operating without certification, deplorable sanitation standards, and the use of makeshift filtration materials such as cloth rags. Other infractions involved mismatched facility addresses, expired permits, and non-compliant packaging.
Notable closures included Obra Bo Table Water in Asari-Toru, along with Loilia, Jima, Inye, Obuta, S.P. Nimi, Soaltam, Piasso, and Imumsco Table Water in Degema. Akuku-Toru saw Granpa, Daa Ajuka, and Diob Table Water shuttered, while Ikwerre’s AQUA-TOBSON, DUCO, CHISODEK, and NEO BRAIN were also padlocked. Factory proprietors were summoned for regulatory sanctions.
Oligbu issued a stern warning to illicit producers to cease operations immediately and directed businesses with lapsed licenses to initiate renewals promptly. He emphasized that non-compliance would result in legal repercussions.
Highlighting another grave violation, the director condemned the operation of water plants near petrol stations, stating such setups would trigger irreversible shutdowns. He further stressed that impeding NAFDAC personnel constitutes a prosecutable offense.
Reaffirming NAFDAC’s zero-tolerance stance, Oligbu assured comprehensive surveillance across Rivers State to eliminate unlawful sachet water manufacturing. The agency urged citizens to report suspicious activities, guaranteeing swift intervention.
This operation aligns with NAFDAC’s nationwide campaign to eradicate hazardous consumables and counterfeit products from the market.
