The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has shut down 150 shops in Eziukwu Market, Aba, Abia State, during a two-day operation on December 16 and 17, 2024.
This was made known in a statement shared by the agency on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
According to NAFDAC, the enforcement exercise uncovered a large-scale network involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit and expired goods, including beverages, carbonated drinks, wines, spirits, vegetable oils, and revalidated food products such as noodles, powdered milk, and yoghurt.
The counterfeit items destroyed during the operation were valued at N5 billion.
The statement reads, “NAFDAC has shut down 150 shops at Eziukwu Market, Aba, Abia State, during a two-day operation on December 16 and 17, 2024.
“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 N5 billion.”
Describing Eziukwu Market as a hotspot for counterfeit and substandard products, NAFDAC’s South-East Zone Director, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, expressed disappointment over the persistence of illegal activities.
This comes despite an agreement signed by market leaders in December 2023 to combat and expose counterfeiters operating in the market.
The statement added, “Describing the market as a hub for counterfeit and substandard products, the Director, South-East Zone, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, expressed dismay at the continued illegal activities, despite a previous undertaking signed by market leaders in December 2023 to expose counterfeiters.
“The #DGatNAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye reaffirms the Agency’s zero tolerance for such practices and emphasizes its unwavering commitment to safeguarding public health while working toward a permanent solution to the problem of counterfeit products in the market.”