The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has intensified its crackdown on illegal sachet water production in the Federal Capital Territory, shutting down multiple facilities operating in unhygienic conditions.
During an enforcement exercise on Tuesday, NAFDAC officials sealed off unregistered factories in Dutse Alhaji and Dawaki, citing poor sanitary conditions, substandard equipment, and failure to meet regulatory standards.
Speaking to journalists, the Director of NAFDAC’s FCT Directorate, Kenneth Azikiwe, revealed that over 40 illegal water factories had been closed across the FCT as part of the agency’s efforts to rid the market of unsafe products.
“The operation is at a critical phase, and we are committed to ensuring that all food and beverage manufacturers adhere to strict quality and safety standards,” Azikiwe said.
The exercise followed a directive from NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasizing compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices.
Officials discovered that some producers were fraudulently using multiple brand names and unauthorized NAFDAC registration numbers to distribute substandard sachet water to unsuspecting consumers.
Beyond the sachet water industry, the agency has also shut down more than 14 non-compliant bakeries in Mararaba, Nyanya, Zuba, and Gwagwalada.
The enforcement operation, carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian police and other security agencies, was aimed at curbing the widespread production of substandard consumables.
Assistant Director at NAFDAC and a lead officer in the enforcement, Dr Promise Ogbonna, condemned the severe hygiene violations uncovered.
“There is no proper water treatment—no sand filters, no carbon filters, and UV sterilization lights are either non-functional or completely absent,” she explained.
She further revealed that some illegal manufacturers operated in facilities where toilets faced production areas, while bags of water were left scattered around, exposing products to contamination.
At one of the sites, authorities discovered multiple sachet water brands, including Alpha and Omega, Kegonis, Al-Nurain, Asig, and Concept, all linked to the same illegal operator.
A worker at one of the factories admitted that their sachet prints were supplied by an unregistered source.
NAFDAC has vowed to extend its investigation to printing presses suspected of supplying unauthorized registration numbers to illegal sachet water producers.
Azikiwe urged Nigerians to be cautious and only purchase products from reputable and properly registered manufacturers to avoid potential health risks.
As enforcement actions continue, NAFDAC has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of consumable goods, warning illegal operators to comply with regulations or face severe penalties.
