The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shutted down a registered water production facility located in Lafia, Nasarawa State, after it was found violating regulations by illegally manufacturing five distinct water brands.
During a press briefing on Friday, Mr. Anga Emmanuel, the Deputy Director and Head of the NAFDAC office in Lafia, provided critical insights into the situation. He highlighted that the factory, which was initially licensed to produce Mainima Table Water, was discovered to be producing various unregistered water products during a routine inspection conducted by agency officials.
Mr. Emmanuel revealed that one individual, Mr. Christian Chukuma, was apprehended during the inspection process. The illegally produced water brands included Bilal Table Water, Nkonjun Table Water, Anumzi Table Water, and Agbeni Table Water. Alarmingly, none of these products originated from Lafia, with one brand reportedly traced back to Kaduna State, underscoring the extent of the operation’s fraudulent activities.
Emmanuel indicated that the facility’s operational license had not only expired but that it had also failed to comply with essential manufacturing standards required for food and beverage production. He elaborated that both Bilal and Agbeni Table Water were registered in Doma Local Government Area (LGA), while Nkonjun Table Water was registered in Akwanga LGA, and Anumzi Table Water was recognized in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State.
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Describing the factory’s actions as both fraudulent and perilous, Emmanuel issued a stern warning to others who might be engaging in similar illegal practices, urging them to cease their activities immediately or face severe legal repercussions. He reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to intensifying surveillance efforts to ensure that only safe, regulated, and properly registered products make it to consumers’ hands.
“The factory has been shut down, and the perpetrator will be subjected to the full extent of the law as a cautionary example to others,” Emmanuel stated emphatically. Furthermore, he called upon the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious or unregistered products in their vicinity, enabling prompt regulatory action.
In a surprising turn during the proceedings, Chukuma admitted to his involvement in the unauthorized production of the water brands, attributing his actions to the prevailing economic hardships. He earnestly pleaded for leniency, suggesting that the actual owner of the facility was oblivious to his illegal operations, as he had merely rented the premises for his activities.
