NAFDAC raids Eziukwu Market again, destroys N5 billion products

By Ijendu Iheaka

Umuahia, Dec. 17, 2024

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has continued its raid on the Eziukwu (Cemetery Road) Market in Aba, Abia, and destroyed products worth N5 billion.

The South East Zonal Public Relations Officer of NAFDAC, Mrs. Victoria Akodo disclosed this in an interview with our Correspondent in Aba.

She said that the destroyed products included large caches of packaged foods and beverages of all kinds worth over N5 billion.

The PRO said that the raid was the second NAFDAC was conducting in two years at Eziukwu Market famed as the headquarters of fake and expired products in Abia.

Akodo said the raid, led by the Zonal Director, NAFDAC, Mr. Martins Iluyomade, began on Monday, and had continued to clear the market of loads of adulterated and expired products.

“As at today being Tuesday, December 17, 2024, we have cleared out about 150 shops packed full with fake, adulterated or expired but re-validated products.

“The re-validated products include indomie noodles, spaghetti, macaroni, fanta, coke, hollandia yogurt and all their products, and La Casera”, she said.

Akodo lamented that the illegality going on at Eziukwu Market is “very massive” hence the need to curtail it.

Iluyomade had on Monday when the operation began, warned Nigerians to be careful of what they consume in order not to fall victim to destructive fake and re-validated products.

“Our people should look again at the pack of the product when it looks older than the date marking. They should know that such products have been re-validated.

“When packs are scratchy and the date markings are very clear and crispy, you should know that something is wrong; so consumers should open their eyes”, he said.

The NAFDAC Zonal Director said that it had all the plans in place to catch the culprits fingered in that “destruction of lives going on at Eziukwu Market again which the traders call making money.

“I feel like shading tears. I don’t understand why people would be recalcitrant and hell-bent on making money at the expense of the health and wellbeing of their fellow citizens.

“What we met today is not different from what we saw last year, if not much more.

“It is quite disheartening, honestly, I feel like crying here because there are no drinks you are looking for in Nigeria that is not being faked here”, he said.