The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified mop-up activities in markets, supermarkets and departmental stores in Southeast, ahead of Yuletide, Zonal Coordinator Mr. Fori Tatama has said.
He spoke in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.
According to him, the agency has upgraded its activities, as the annual festivities approach, to checkmate unwholesome, counterfeit, unregistered and expired products.
Tatama said NAFDAC was on guard to prevent unscrupulous elements taking advantage of the Yuletide to sell unwholesome, unregistered and expired food, drug and cosmetic products to the public.
“The agency has instructed its employees in the zonal, state and other offices to inspect markets, supermarkets and departmental stores.
“This is to ensure that displayed products are registered, wholesome and not expired.
“We know that most unscrupulous traders and business people use the advantage of rush during the Yuletide to push out injurious products to the public.
“With our proactive measures and working ahead of time, we will ensure only genuine, wholesome and registered products are sold everywhere in the zone.
“The agency in the Southeast has written to and started sensitising market and traders’ associations on this and the need for them to cooperate with our workers,” he said.
Tatama said officials of the agency would visit markets, among other places, to mop-up unwanted products.
He urged Southeast residents to be vigilant when buying any product, saying they should not be carried away by low prices.
“We want Nigerians, especially those living in the Southeast, where Christmas and New Year festivities are highly celebrated, to be wary of the items they buy in the markets by questioning any irregularity in any product.
“Our people should look at the packing of products, including labelling, colour and shape of container of product.
“First, they should know if the packing conforms to the products they know.
“Second, they should check the expiry and manufacturing dates of the products and the way these dates are printed for uniformity.
“They should also check for the NAFDAC registration number and any other logo or trade mark the product is known for.’’
Tatama said the fight against counterfeit, unwholesome and unregistered products was a collective responsibility, adding that “NAFDAC or the media cannot win the war alone.’’
He advised residents, who noticed any irregularity in any product, especially food, drug and cosmetic products or a product not registered, to lodge complaints with NAFDAC offices.
“For the Southeast states, you can reach us through these hotline numbers: Onitsha – 08033086597, 07065285650; Imo (Owerri) – 08037145506 and Aba – 08037272583.
“Ebonyi (Abakaliki) – 08033451634; Enugu – 08033966155 and Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu– 08035325900.
“The zonal coordinator’s number is 08036093178 and email is imtatama@yahoo.com.’’
Tatama said the agency was pushing its monitoring and regulation with cutting-edge technology and the use of information and social media.