The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control says it has dismantled an illegal alcohol factory in Badagry, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria. NAFDAC made this known in a statement on Sunday in Lagos by its Resident Media Consultant, Mr Sayo Akintola. The agency noted that its enforcement team, aided by the Nigerian Army 15 Field Engineering Regiment in Badagry, carried out the operation.
He alleged that the factory belonged to one Mr Chinedu Okafor, a suspected illegal drinks manufacturer, operating from his residence at No. O24, MTN Road, Badagry. Akintola stated, “Okafor’s suspicious activities caught the attention of the Nigerian Army, leading to his arrest and subsequent handover to NAFDAC officers at the Ports Inspection Directorate, Seme Border. “Upon inspection, officers evacuated all equipment and materials used in the production of illicit drinks, and effectively shut down the illegal factory. “Investigations revealed that Okafor’s longstanding involvement in criminal activities has compromised regulated alcohol drinks in the area.” He said that the suspect would be prosecuted according to the law and emphasised the need for public vigilance and for Nigerians to always report suspicious activities to safeguard public health.
Akintola said NAFDAC prioritises the health of Nigerians, which explains its insistence on not consuming adulterated alcohol as it could lead to kidney and liver failure or even death. He called on Nigerians to always consider the “4 Ps” (Place, Price, Packaging, Product) before buying any alcoholic product. “The World Health Organisation in its Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, estimated that more than three million people died all over the world as a result of alcohol poisoning. “The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) says that one of every 10 cancer cases in Nigeria can be traced to alcohol and 4.7 percent of overall cancer cases in Nigeria in 2019 can be attributed to consumption of adulterated alcohol. “Nigerians must remain vigilant and scrutinize branded drinks to distinguish them from counterfeits before consuming them,” he said.
Akintola assured that NAFDAC would continue to ensure that the level of counterfeit products nationwide was brought to the barest minimum so that people would consume only healthy and safe products. He urged Nigerians and the public to report any suspicious activity of illegal producers of adulterated products or similar activities to the nearest NAFDAC office nationwide.
