NAFDAC Shuts Down 150 Shops in Aba’s Eziukwu Market Over Tons of Fake and Expired Products

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down 150 shops at Eziukwu Market, Aba, Abia State. The two-day raid on December 16 and 17, 2024, uncovered fake and expired goods worth ₦5 billion. The agency disclosed this in a post on Wednesday on its official X account.

Officials found fake and expired items, including powdered milk, noodles, alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks. NAFDAC also shared videos showing the items, which included revalidated goods with altered expiry dates. Products like ketchup and yoghurt were repackaged to deceive buyers.

The team uncovered large-scale production and distribution of fake and expired goods, including beverages, carbonated drinks, wines, spirits, vegetable oils, and revalidated food items such as noodles, powdered milk, and yoghurt. The destroyed items were valued at ₦5 billion the agency stated.

Dr Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s South-East Zone Director, described the market as a hub for counterfeit goods. He said the production areas were filthy, with unsafe water, harmful chemicals, and dirty bottles being used. The videos revealed the filthy and unsanitary conditions where many of the fake products were manufactured.

Iluyomade expressed frustration that market leaders failed to honour a 2023 agreement to expose counterfeiters. He noted that these illegal activities put public health at serious risk. Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Director-General, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to stopping these practices. She said the raid was part of efforts to protect consumers and prevent harm.

A similar operation last year led to the destruction of fake goods worth ₦750 million. The seized items included adulterated alcoholic drinks and soft drinks. The agency had destroyed over 1,500 cartons of fake and substandard products, while 300 hundred cartons were moved to the NAFDAC warehouse. In a virtual media parley in Abuja, it was disclosed that the street value of the destroyed products was over ₦750,000,000. The recent raid reveals a rise in counterfeiting activities, which is concerning due to the health implications of consuming such adulterated products.

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