Many Nigerians are now wary of consuming beverages and related products following the discovery of a hideout for the production of fake wines in Aba, Abia State.
Development Diaries reports that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) reported that it intercepted counterfeiters involved in the production of a variety of fake beverages, including wines, soft drinks, and other products.
It is understood that 240 shops for this illegal manufacturing of fake consumables were discovered, and ten persons have been arrested.
NAFDAC further described the situation as ‘worse than Boko Haram’.
It is, however, surprising that the counterfeiters had so much time to expand their operations and infiltrate the market with counterfeit goods before NAFDAC could discover what was going on.
NAFDAC is mandated to regulate the manufacturing, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, packaged water, chemicals and detergents in Nigeria.
The agency is also mandated to ensure that food facilities adhere to good manufacturing practices (GMP) that can sustain quality food products.
Although NAFDAC has assured that the culprits have been apprehended, Nigerians need reassurance from the agency on preventing future disasters.
This is not the first time fake and harmful products have infiltrated the market and stayed for a long period without the detection of NAFDAC.
The agency needs to improve its regulatory effectiveness. There should be better and more effective measures put in place to cut down on illegal manufacturing factories before the products get into the market.
Development Diaries calls on the Director General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, to work on improving surveillance, strengthening collaboration with law enforcement agencies, implementing advanced technologies for product tracking, and increasing public awareness.
The agency should also work closely with market associations to gain access to information ahead of time.
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