NAFDAC Discovers Over 25 Fake Alcoholic Drink Factories At Lagos Trade Fair Complex

The enforcement team of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Tuesday, uncovered a large-scale counterfeit alcoholic beverage operation at the Zamfara and Niger Plazas, at Trade Fair Complex, along the Badagry Expressway, Ojo, Lagos State.

The two storey building, having 12 shops both sides on each floor was discovered that majority of those shops are for production of the fake, adulterated or revalidation of expired products.

According to  the Director in Enforcement unit of NAFDAC, Kunle Ojo, while speaking with the press during the raid  said the discovery was made possible through gathered intelligent reports.

“We were told to come into the premises through the backyard in order to catch them unaware, but unfortunately, most of them escaped through the front gate  while we were able to arrest  two of them. They always use the shops which also serve as warehouses as their operating  place.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP at the scene, the Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Mrs
Christiana Obiazikwor said she  wondered why  the people are so desperate in their evil work.

“We  sealed their first location after raid, then they relocated to this new place. We  shall  deal with them  to  stop them from circulation of such dangerous products.”

And while addressing the media after  the raid,  Obiazikwor who led the team with other directors, explained her reason for following the team of enforcement for the exercise.

According to her, she decided  to  accompanying the enforcement team in order  to further  display  the commitment and concern of  Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola
Adeyeye towards pruning fake products.

“‘NAFDAC DG, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye is very passionate in tackling of  fake, adulterated or expired products in the country, and we want everyone to know that  NAFDAC has on daily basis been embarking raid and seizure to prevent them from circulation of our markets with  them. We are here to reassure the general public that  NAFDAC is on top  of the situation and we will get to  the roots.

Moreover,  Obiazikwor maintained, “‘on behalf of the DG, I  want to reiterate that NAFDAC DG and the entire  workforce of
NAFDAC enforcement teams, with the collaboration of  well meaning Nigerians we  shall win the war against expired or  adulterated products across the country.

Though unscrupulous people are selling poisonous drinks, collaboration of general public will help. We need  more whistle-blowers, if you see something, say something,
we are appealing to  the  general public to keep informing NAFDAC of any fake producers, we  shall always protect your identification, we  need more intelligent reports  to  help  us arrest such producers of fake, adulterated or  those who are  relabelling expire  products for sale.

On his part, the  Deputy  Enforcement officer, Kunle Ojo cried utterly against the nefarious activities of the fake manufacturers of fake drinks.

According to Ojo, “As Christmas is fast approaching, these evil minded  individuals want  to keep destroying lives with fake products, and we  are here to ensure that they are arrested from  such act. We were able to get here today based on intelligent reports. We need the assistance of the general public to  expose  such producers.

Moreover, the Agency urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious manufacturing, repackaging expired products to NAFDAC offices.