The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has shut down 150 shops at Eziukwu Market in Aba, Abia State, during a two-day operation on December 16 and 17, 2024.
NAFDAC revealed this in a statement shared on its X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday.
The agency uncovered the large-scale production and distribution of fake and expired products, including beverages, carbonated drinks, wines, spirits, vegetable oils, and revalidated food items such as noodles, powdered milk, and yoghurt.
NAFDAC stated that the seized items, valued at ₦5 billion, were destroyed during the operation.
Describing the market as a hub for counterfeit and substandard goods, NAFDAC’s South-East Zonal Director, Martins Iluyomade, expressed disappointment over the continued illegal activities in the market. He reminded the public that market leaders had signed an agreement in December 2023, promising to expose those behind such practices.
NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, stressed the agency’s zero tolerance for such illegal activities and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health.
The agency vowed to intensify its efforts to curb the distribution of fake products and ensure stricter enforcement in the region.
