Cartels Of Expired Products Uncovered In Niger

Groups of traders who specialised in flooding Niger State markets with expired goods and drinks have been uncovered.

LEADERSHIP findings revealed that most of those who deal in the expired products have their warehouses in Kasuwa Gwari, Mokwa, Minna , Bida and in village markets of Gwada and Sarikin Pawan from where they break the bulks to supermarkets and retail shops.

It was learnt that supermarkets and retail shops package the products as originals for unsuspecting members of the public who may not care to check the expiration dates.

Sources hinted that “some of the wholesalers who engaged in selling expired products are aware that the products are harmful and needed to be returned to the manufacturers but they repackage it and sell to the public.”

Consequently some volunteers operating under the National Community Ethics and Environmental values acting as pressure group have uncovered the nefarious operation.

They had raised the alarm warning that expired goods and drinks stocked by traders are being sold to innocent consumers in the state.

The Niger State Commandant, National Community Ethics and Environmental values, Abubakar Sa’adu Ndayako while confirming the ugly trend to LEADERSHIP explained that his men have been working in collaboration with NAFDAC to stop the circulation of expired drugs and packaged food items in Niger State.

“We have discovered that some traders engaged in the unethical behaviour of selling expired goods, drinks and soup condiments like maggi to unsuspecting customers most of whom are villagers they capitalized on the ignorance of some people mostly villagers to check expiry dates,” he added.

He said the organisation handed over expired goods worth several millions of Naira to NAFDAC for destruction and wondered why the traders refused to consider the health implications of their actions.

He said, “We have seized trailer loads of expired drinks, goods and other expired consumables in the Mokwa local government area of Niger state, which will be handed over to NAFDAC in due course.” He added that those involved will soon face the wrath of the law.

Meanwhile LEADERSHIP check at the popular Kasuwa Gwari in Minna revealed that while some of the traders are aware of the trend some feign ignorance.

Attempts to reach the state director of NAFDAC proved abortive; however, a source at the office revealed that the agency has been tough on selling expired products.