NAFDAC threatens forceful shut down of unhealthy pure water plants in Kaduna
(Participants at the interactive session in Kaduna)
//NAFDAC: Julian Kefas, Kaduna, North-west Nigeria//
Zonal Coordinator of National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), North-west, Sabo Ibrahim on Thursday threatened forceful shut down of any sachet water plant operating in unhealthy environment as stipulated by the agency.
He warned such business operators that, producing packaged water and other products in locations that have been frowned at by the agency to relocate or be forced to stop production upon discovery.
The Zonal Coordinator who stated this while declaring open an Interactive Session with the Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP) Kaduna State at the Kabir Gymnasium, Kaduna on Thursday said that, a situation whereby food products and water are produced in areas that are unhealthy poses great risks to the public,
hence as the agency mandated with ensuring that only healthy food and drinks are consumed.
“We have warned you and would no longer warn but act and force you to leave such places that are unhealthy. We have advanced and as such, I
expect you to move with the time and stop producing your products in places and manner that it was done in the past,” he said.
Earlier, State Coordinator of NAFDAC office n Kaduna, Mullah Nantim Dadi commended ATWAP for assisting the agency in tackling illegal producers in the Kaduna State Capital.
“However, to achieve a common goal across board, this interactive meeting is organized to bring information and enlightenment to the
participants while hoping to receive also guiding contributions that will help ensure that packaged water in Kaduna is safe indeed for consumption.
“I have no doubt that majority of the producers are genuine, sincere and committed to the production of safe drinking water, there are also careless producers, endangering the health of consumers.
“We have also seen that, carelessness by many in the manufacturing plants have dropped the quality measures on ground exposing the packaged
water to several contaminants thereby impacting the final product with poor quality and ultimately unsafe for public consumption,” he added.
He then advised the general public to reject any drug, food, cosmetics, medical device, drink or packaged water that does not have NAFDAC registration number.
“Check for full manufacturer’s name and address on products before buying. Reject any product that is expired, or does not have expiry date or whose expiry date is tampered with,” he added.
Managing Director, JOTEKO Water, Ojo James while fielding questions from newsmen said though his factory is up to date but will join hand with NAFDAC regulations for better delivery to consumers to safeguard health of the public.