We’ll demolish buildings housing fake products –NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has warned that henceforth, any facility used for manufacturing or storing counterfeit products will be demolished. Read more

The Director-General of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii, expressed concern over the activities of  counterfeiters  at a press briefing in Lagos on Friday, where 14 suspected counterfeiters were paraded. He said the agency would be going all out to ensure that those who breached the regulatory functions of the agency face the consequences of their actions.

Orhii said, “As soon as assets of the counterfeiters are confiscated, NAFDAC would move ahead to demolish the building to serve as a deterrent to property owners who may want to allow tenants to turn their properties into illegal warehouses.”

Also, NAFDAC sealed up an illegal food production facility located in Eziukwu Market, Aba, Abia State, where fake Gold’s Custard and other popular brands of custard powder were being manufactured.

According to Orhii, the company, Lisabi Mills Nigeria Limited,  had alerted NAFDAC that its flagship product, Gold’s Custard was being faked.Following the complaint, a team of NAFDAC agency’s enforcement officials swung into action, which led to the discovery of the factory in Abia.

He said, “During investigations, it was discovered that different brands of food products, including popular brands of custard powder, were being counterfeited and sold in the open markets, including Eziukwu Market in Aba.

“At the time of the arrest, truckloads of the fake Gold’s Custard were being distributed to open markets. A building serving as manufacturing premises was identified. It had an American flag hoisted on it to distract attention from their activities. We also sealed six illegal manufacturing factories located on the first floor of the three storey building.”

Orhii said that some of the items that were discovered include bags of uncertified industrial corn starch, gas cylinders, sealers, generating sets, promotional items such as notebooks, weighing scales and spoons.

Culled from Punch newspaper