NAFDAC Shuts Food Stores Over Illegal Re–bagging Of Rice In Ekiti

National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut three major raw food stores in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, over Illegal re-bagging of rice.

The coordinator, Ekiti State office of NAFDAC, Mrs Stella Dosumu, disclosed this noting that the stores were closed over infractions allegedly targeted at short-changing unsuspecting members of the public.

The action followed the agency’s director general, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye’s decision to go after those she described as, ‘merchants of death’ in the country, who may have chosen to trade in regulated products illegally.

“NAFDAC DG, in continuation of her efforts to rid the society of fake, counterfeit and substandard medicinal and wholesome items, has closed down three major food warehouses in Ado-Ekiti Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

“The closure took place on Wednesday, March 11, 2025, for serious infractions of the agency’s laws.

“The action followed a tip off by a concerned citizen that illegal re-bagging of rice was being done in some warehouses, after which the state coordinator and her team conducted surveillance activities to the implicated warehouses,” she said.

Dosumu said the team confirmed the information given by the whistleblower at the time of the visit.

“The highlights of findings revealed that several bales of empty bags of popular local and foreign rice were in the warehouses, while already bagged different brands of rice, including sewing and sealing machines were found in the warehouses.”

She said the managers at the warehouses refused to disclose the source of the rice that was being re-bagged, and hence, the status of the rice cannot be ascertained.

“It is a dangerous trend that is capable of compromising the health of the consumers, as well as misleading labeling information.

“ In the interim, the bails of the empty bags of the different brands, found in the warehouses were mopped, samples of the re-bagged rice were taken for Laboratory Analysis, and the warehouses have been closed down, pending the outcome of the laboratory reports, before further regulatory actions can be determined.

“The public is hereby reassured that the agency will continue to pursue her mandate of safeguarding the health of the citizens, by ensuring both drug and food safety in Nigeria”, she added.