By Aderogba George
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Tuesday sealed four local rice milling companies
in Autabalefi area, Masaka main market and motor pack, all in Nasarawa State.
The agency equally seized some empty branded bags of rice belonging to some known companies such as Royal Stallion, Tomato and Big Bull, BUA rice and many others.
Other items seized by the agency are sealing machines, Sowing thread, Middle, packing bowl and two 50 kg bags of rice belonging to some of these local milling companies.
NAFDAC also put on hold the Nigeria Brewery, Masaka Depot for poor storage of drinks.
The agency said that the large quantity of drinks that were arranged outside the Brewery building, under the sun, were not hygienic for consumption.
Mrs Benedicta Obaseki, the agency’s Deputy Director, NAFDAC Greater FCT Office, in Mararaba, Nasarawa state said that NAFDAC effected is the raid as a result of the findings from concerned Nigerians.
“The raid became necessary to avoid the circulation of substandard rice into the market as the Muslim faithful celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir.
“NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of food products in our markets, especially at this time as we are approaching the Sallah.
“We all know that people use this opportunity to manufacture and sell all manner of fake things in the name of making money. And so because of that, we needed to be proactive to ensure that we do the needful.
“On behalf of the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, we decided to take decisive action against the manufacturers of those rice products because they do not comply with our regulatory standards.
“As such, these products have been put on hold and will be destroyed appropriately. As we approach the Sallah, we want to ensure that Nigerians has access to safe and quality food in the markets.
“Fake rice poses a great danger to health and we do not want to tolerate that,” Obaseki stressed
She said that NAFDAC would continue to raid markets to mop up rice and other offensive products that are of substandard, and would also apply sanction on any products that do not comply with standard.
Obaseki urged Nigerians to be vigilant, and make sure they buy rice from reputable sources, stressing that the agency had discovered some sharp practices in the recent time.
She also called on Nigerians to always check out for NAFDAC registration number of any product they buy in the market, adding that safety of Nigerians is the agency priority.
Miss Purity Obadiah, the Manager to one of the companies told newsmen that her company milled, rice, corn, cassava, process them and deliver such products to their customers.
She said that her company also polishes and de-stone, and package rice for individuals.
When asked if people bring branded bags to repackaging, Obadiah said no.
“Last December, customers brought new branded bags for us to package but we didn’t do it. The owner of this company has warned us not to accept that.
“So that is what we do,we don’t accept branded bags,” Obadiah stressed.
Mrs Maris Kano, whose company was also sealed, denied any wrongdoing.
“The bags that I used in repackaging my rice were bought from the market and not branded ones that belongs to other companies,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)