The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down eight shops and a warehouse in Karu local government area of Nasarawa State.
NAFDAC accused the owners of the facilities of producing and selling counterfeit rice, thereby endangering the health of unsuspecting consumers.
The agency stated this in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday, noting that during the raid led by NAFDAC’s Director for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Kenneth Azikiwe, over 1,600 bags of counterfeit rice worth approximately ₦5 billion were seized.
The operation also extended to Wuse and Garki markets in Abuja, highlighting the widespread nature of the illegal activity, the statement added.
“This exercise was expressly directed by the Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, to ensure that counterfeit food products are removed from circulation and those responsible are prosecuted,” Azikiwe stated.
He reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance policy for counterfeiting and emphasised the importance of safeguarding public health, especially during the festive season.
According to the statement, the NAFDAC’s enforcement team discovered a range of counterfeit activities in Karu, including the use of fake branded rice bags labeled with names such as Big Bull, Royal Stallion, Optimum, and Tomato Aposo.
These bags were used to repackage substandard rice, deceiving consumers into believing they were purchasing premium products.
Azikiwe revealed that the operation was based on intelligence reports and complaints from genuine manufacturers, who had alerted NAFDAC to the counterfeiting.
“These criminal elements exploit the trust consumers have in popular brands. We are determined to bring them to justice,” he said.
He said that several suspects involved in the counterfeiting operation were arrested during the raid and will soon face prosecution, while warning others engaging in similar illegal activities to desist, noting that NAFDAC would continue to intensify its efforts to ensure food safety in Nigeria.
The agency urged Nigerians to remain vigilant when purchasing food products, especially rice, during the yuletide season. Azikiwe advised consumers to verify that products are registered with NAFDAC and to report suspicious items to the nearest agency office for investigation.
