“You’re not trying” – Nigerians lash NAFDAC and SON over fake wines, soft drinks, other consumables in circulation

Many Nigerians have asked the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to be more committed to their duties and make the country’s consumption space free from fake products.

This comes after NAFDAC arrested a syndicate that specialises in the production of counterfeit wines, soft drinks and other consumables, in Eziukwu Market, in Aba, Abia State.

The NAFDAC Director-General of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, in Abuja on Monday, December 17, 2023, the agency carried out several weeks of intelligence gathering and collation of data on the activities of these ‘merchants of death’, in collaboration with other security agencies.

The NAFDAC boss said that the agency carried out the sting operation in the market to burst the criminal operation taking place there.

According to her: “It is worthy of note that this dastard act has been going on for a long time and that they operate like a cartel, threatening anyone who dares to challenge them.”

She said that some of the nefarious activities of the counterfeiters included the manufacture of all kinds of adulterated products, especially different kinds of wine from a wide variety of brands, ranging from Seaman, Schnapps, Henessy, Four Cousins, and Carlo Rossi.

Others are Jenney, Chelsea London dry gin, Schnapp dry gin, McDowells, Black labels, Gordons, Martell, Campari, Smirnoff ice, Eva Non-Alcoholic drink, Evra non-alcoholic drink, Cartel and others.

The D-G said that there is also date revalidation for expired products like Peak milk, powdered milk, Ketchups, Yoghurt, Coca-Cola products, and packaging of fake and substandard products, which are later sold to unsuspecting members of the public for consumption.

Adeyeye said because of the extensive operation, the agency raided over 240 shops-turned-factories where the harmful products were being produced and marketed.

“The shops-turned factories are very filthy, using water from very unhygienic sources, harmful chemicals, saccharin, colouring, dirty recycled bottles, and cloned packaging materials of other brands.

“The adulteration of alcoholic beverages by criminal elements in the country is done by mixing of cheaper sources of sugar and starch besides grapes or fruits, among other harmful chemicals unsuitable for human consumption.

“Over 1,500 cartons of fake and substandard products were destroyed during the operation while 300 cartons were evacuated to the NAFDAC warehouse. The street value of the confiscated and destroyed fake products is estimated at over N750 million.

“Ten people were arrested on arrival at the scene of the crime and will be charged to court after a thorough investigation.

“Due to the sheer magnitude of illegality going on in that section of the market, NAFDAC had to shut the entire market for thorough regulatory activity until an agreement was reached with all stakeholders who signed that the market will never be used for nefarious activities.

“Drinking adulterated alcohol can cause nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, drowsiness, dizziness, blue-tinged or pale skin, irregular or slow breathing, low body temperature, unconsciousness or even death.

“It can also lead to kidney and liver failure. Methanol, a substance which can be used in fake vodka, may cause permanent blindness,” she stressed.

However, many Nigerians have expressed concern over the lapse in the agency’s oversight as well as SON, questioning how the proliferation of fake products reached such alarming levels.

Raising queries about the effectiveness of Nafdac’s monitoring mechanisms and the factors that allowed the problem to escalate to its current extent.

Some users have taken it upon themselves to scrutinize their own homes for potential fake products, specifically noting the absence of NAFDAC registration numbers. This revelation has prompted heightened awareness among consumers regarding the prevalence of substandard goods circulating in the market.

A Twitter user @enodamade said; “It’s time for NAFDAC and SON to rise up to the occasion and sanitize our consumption space! We are dying needless deaths because of these fake products!”

Nana Aba reacted; “NAFDAC needs to try harder. If they need the assistance of the public, they should make statements and tell us how we can help. We can’t continue like this.“

@GeekyAdams wrote; “One thing is certain though, someone in NAFDAC isn’t doing their job and needs to be arrested. Because how can an important database like this not be updated regularly?”

@MisLami_A said; “Jokes apart, this is a national emergency, and if we are serious, the heads of NAFDAC and SON should be summoned to the Villa immediately, but yea, probably not happening.“

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