By Bashir Aliyu
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Tuesday launched a major enforcement operation against illegal sachet water production facilities in Dutse Alhaji and Dawaki, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The operation led to the confiscation and closure of multiple facilities found to be operating in unsafe environments, using substandard equipment, and failing to meet regulatory standards.
According to reports several facilities were discovered where multiple individuals fraudulently claimed ownership of the same sachet water brand.
Mr. Kenneth Azikiwe, Director of NAFDAC’s FCT Directorate, revealed that over 40 illegal water factories had been shut down across the FCT as part of the agency’s ongoing enforcement efforts. He stated that the operation marks a critical phase in NAFDAC’s broader campaign to ensure compliance with stringent quality and safety standards among food and beverage manufacturers.
The enforcement exercise followed a direct order from NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who emphasized adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Azikiwe explained that the crackdown was prompted by rising concerns over producers using substandard materials, stamping products with unauthorized identification numbers, and operating in unsafe conditions.
In addition to the sachet water facilities, Azikiwe disclosed that more than 14 bakeries had been shut down in key FCT areas, including Mararaba, Nyanya, Zuba, and Gwagwalada, due to non-compliance with safety regulations.
The operation was carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Police and other security agencies, ensuring strict action against violators of health and safety standards.
“This operation required strong synergy and collective commitment to track down individuals involved in the illegal manufacturing and distribution of substandard products,” Azikiwe said.
He emphasized that the crackdown underscores NAFDAC’s commitment to consumer safety and serves as a stern warning to manufacturers who bypass regulatory requirements. Azikiwe urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and purchase consumable products only from reputable and properly registered sources to avoid health risks.
He also revealed that NAFDAC would extend its investigation to printing presses supplying unauthorized NAFDAC numbers to illegal sachet water producers, aiming to dismantle the entire supply chain.
Severe Hygiene Violations Uncovered
Dr. Promise Ogbonna, Assistant Director at NAFDAC and a lead officer in the enforcement exercise, condemned the severe hygiene and safety violations uncovered during the operation.
Ogbonna highlighted the public health risks posed by unhygienic sachet water production, noting that all the shutdown facilities lacked essential water treatment components.
“There is no treatment plant, no sand filter, no carbon filter, and the UV sterilisation light is non-functional,” she explained, detailing the shocking findings at the sites.
She added that the facilities were illegally drilling untreated water and supplying it to the public without proper registration or compliance with NAFDAC safety standards.
Ogbonna further revealed that toilets were inappropriately positioned facing production areas, and bags of water were found scattered around, further compromising hygiene and product safety.
“There was no proper storage or sterilisation process for packaging materials, which are critical control points in water production,” she stated.
During the operation, Ogbonna demonstrated her findings by holding sachets of water from brands such as Alpha and Omega, Kegonis, Al-Nurain, Asig, and Concept—all produced by the same illegal operator.
Mohammed Asian, a worker at one of the facilities, admitted that the ‘Concept’ sachets were printed by a supplier he was personally familiar with.