NAFDAC Shuts Down Eziukwu Market, Aba, Over ₦5 Billion Worth of Fake and Expired Products

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed 150 shops at the Eziukwu Market in Aba, Abia State, following the discovery of counterfeit and expired products worth an estimated ₦5 billion. The operation, conducted over two days on December 16 and 17, 2024, uncovered large-scale production and distribution of substandard goods.

Among the seized items were beverages, carbonated drinks, wines, spirits, vegetable oils, and revalidated food products such as noodles, powdered milk, and yoghurt. Videos showcasing the confiscated and destroyed items were shared on NAFDAC’s official X account, highlighting the extent of the illicit activities.

Describing Eziukwu Market as a hub for counterfeit and substandard goods, the Director of NAFDAC’s South-East Zone, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, expressed dismay over the persistence of these illegal activities. This is despite a previous agreement signed in December 2023 by market leaders to collaborate with NAFDAC in exposing counterfeiters and upholding product standards.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance stance against counterfeit and expired goods, emphasizing its unwavering dedication to safeguarding public health. She pledged that NAFDAC would continue its enforcement activities and work towards a lasting solution to eradicate counterfeit products from the market.

The agency also called on members of the public to report suspicious activities and urged traders and manufacturers to adhere strictly to regulatory standards. NAFDAC emphasized that the safety and well-being of Nigerians remain its top priority.