By Abbas Nazil
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed a registered water production facility in Lafia, Nasarawa State, for engaging in the illegal manufacturing of five unregistered table water brands.
The crackdown followed a routine inspection by officials of the agency, which revealed the factory, originally authorised to produce Mainima Table Water, had exceeded its mandate by producing multiple unauthorised products.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Mr. Anga Emmanuel, Deputy Director and Head of the NAFDAC office in Lafia, disclosed that the facility was found producing water brands not registered under its licence, including Bilal Table Water, Nkonjun Table Water, Anumzi Table Water, and Agbeni Table Water.
Emmanuel noted that none of the brands were registered in Lafia, with one traced as far as Kaduna State.
“All the other products he was found to be producing are not from Lafia; one is even in Kaduna State,” Emmanuel stated, expressing concern about the wide-reaching and deceptive nature of the operation.
A man identified as Mr. Christian Chukuma was apprehended at the site during the inspection.
He admitted to producing the illegal brands and explained that he resorted to the act due to economic hardship.
Chukuma further claimed that the actual owner of the factory was unaware of the illegal activities as he had only rented the facility to conduct the operations.
Emmanuel revealed that further investigation indicated that Bilal and Agbeni Table Waters were registered in Doma Local Government Area (LGA), Nkonjun in Akwanga LGA, while Anumzi was traced to Sanga LGA in Kaduna State.
He described the act as not only fraudulent but also a serious public health threat, stressing that the products were being manufactured without adherence to hygiene or regulatory standards.
He confirmed that the operational licence of the facility had expired and that it lacked the basic sanitary and manufacturing conditions required to operate.
As a result, the factory has been shut down and the suspect is to face legal action to serve as a deterrent to others involved in similar illegal ventures.
Emmanuel assured the public of NAFDAC’s commitment to intensified surveillance and enforcement actions, aimed at ensuring that only registered and safe consumable products are made available in the market.
He warned individuals and businesses against the production or distribution of unregistered food and beverage products and encouraged citizens to report any suspicious or unapproved items in their communities to the agency for prompt investigation and action.
