The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed 50 retail outlets in Kaduna for purportedly selling edible oil in unhygienic conditions, risking public health and safety.
The clampdown on these outlets comes as part of NAFDAC’s efforts to enforce strict hygiene standards in the sale of edible oil, particularly in open markets and street stalls across Kaduna.
According to Mrs Josephine Dayilim, the North-West Zonal Director of NAFDAC, the agency’s intervention was prompted by concerns over the potential health hazards associated with consuming unhygienically dispensed edible oil, including the heightened risk of cancer.
Speaking at a sensitisation workshop jointly organised by NAFDAC, Mike-Ima Global Resources, and the Kaduna State Chapter of the Edible Oil Dealers Association, Dayilim reiterated the imperative for edible oil vendors to adhere to stringent hygiene protocols to prevent contamination and safeguard consumer health.
She emphasized the need for operators to conduct their business in hygienic environments, utilize appropriate equipment, and subject workers to routine medical examinations.
Dayilim highlighted NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring that only registered and certified products reach consumers, reaffirming the agency’s role as Africa’s foremost regulator of food and drug products.
Dayilim emphasized that NAFDAC is committed to guaranteeing that the public purchases food and other regulated products bearing its approved labels.
She stressed the importance of ensuring that safe, quality, and wholesome foods reach consumers, a goal achievable through the agency’s consistent monitoring efforts.
Furthermore, Dayilim highlighted NAFDAC’s intention to impose appropriate sanctions on violators, including placing offending outlets on hold and encouraging their owners to register such facilities in accordance with NAFDAC-approved guidelines.
She reiterated the agency’s alignment with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy, emphasizing NAFDAC’s openness to collaboration to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.