The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control has taken action in Kaduna State by shutting down an unhygienic depot and sealing a drinks factory.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday in Kaduna, the state coordinator of NAFDAC, Nasiru Mato, said that, in line with the agency’s mandate to safeguard the health of consumers in the state, they intensified surveillance of the manufacture, distribution, and sale of regulated products to ensure their quality, safety, and efficacy.

Mr. Mato revealed that, following credible intelligence, a team of regulatory officers from the NAFDAC Kaduna State office, led by him, swung into action and uncovered a facility used as a depot operating under unhygienic, poor sanitary conditions for the storage of yogurt and flavoured drinks prior to further distribution. He emphasised that such action was unsatisfactory and unacceptable, as it violated standard regulations, and added that under these storage conditions, product contamination is imminent. Consequently, Mr. Mato said that the facility was shut down as the first line of sanctions.

In a similar development, Mr. Mato reported that another surveillance visit to a sachet water and water-based drinks manufacturer also uncovered that both the systems and processes on ground could not guarantee the quality, safety, and wholesomeness of the products. He stated that both good manufacturing practices and good hygiene practices were compromised; thus, the facility was also placed on hold as the first line of sanctions.

Mr. Mato emphasised that manufacturers of all classes of regulated products should always adhere strictly to standard operating procedures and good manufacturing practices, warning that any violation would face the full wrath of the law.