The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has uncovered a sinister plot by a faith-based organisation, Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries, led by Prophet Jeremiah Omoto to allegedly deceive unsuspecting Nigerians with fake miracle water and soap.
NAFDAC issued a warning to Nigerians regarding the activities of the faith-based organisation for using the agency’s name to deceive the public.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye in a statement made available to PUNCH Healthwise on Sunday, disclosed that none of the products advertised and sold by the faith-based organisation were registered with the agency.
Recently, social media was flooded with reports that Senior Prophet Jeremiah Omoto of Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries was selling “miracle water” and “miracle soap” to his church members, claiming they had a NAFDAC registration number.
This sparked widespread outrage and skepticism, with many questioning the authenticity of the NAFDAC registration number displayed on the products.
The controversy surrounding the miracle products raised concerns about the potential harm they could cause to unsuspecting consumers.
The claim of NAFDAC registration was particularly alarming, as it suggested that the products had undergone some level of regulatory scrutiny.
However, NAFDAC DG disclosed that an investigation conducted by the agency revealed the products were not registered and were being produced without regulatory approval.
Adeyeye said the agency had received petitions from concerned citizens about the products and had investigated the claims.
She further said, “NAFDAC wishes to alert the public on the activities of a faith-based organization – Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries – that uses NAFDAC name to deceive unsuspecting public.
“Recently, NAFDAC has been inundated with petitions from concerned citizens about Senior Prophet Jeremiah Omoto of Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries, KM 5 Effurun, Sapele Road, Delta State on a Miracle Water and Miracle Soap being advertised with healing and miracle claims and sold to unsuspecting members of the public by the Spiritual Ministry. The Minister showcased the use of Miracle Water and Miracle Soap on social media to heal barrenness. He claimed that the women would carry twins if they used the soap. He openly told his congregation that the Soap is NAFDAC registered. Thus, the public began to visit the office to confirm the claims.
“The petitioners also submitted the following products from the Spiritual Ministry to NAFDAC to verify the bogus claims. The products are Miracle & Healing Water, River Jordan Water, the Miracle Water from The Pool of Bethsaida, A new beginning Mount Camel Miracle Water, Water of Life, Miracle Water from The Pool of Bethsaida (1L), A New Beginning Pool of Bethsaida Water, and Father Smelled Perfume.”
Adeyeye stated that upon receipt of the petitions, it contacted the Delta State Coordinator, through the Director Post Marketing Surveillance of the agency to ascertain the existence or records of any transaction with the Christ Mercy Land Deliverance Ministries and the products in Delta State Office.
“The Coordinator was also directed to visit the Ministry to establish the veracity of the claims in the petitions and take necessary regulatory action on the production facility in the Ministry where the Miracle water and other products are produced. The State Coordinator covertly bought the Miracle Water (25cl) for 3000 naira from the Ministries and took the pictures.
“On Wednesday, August 14th, 2024, the State Coordinator Delta State visited the Mercy Land Ministry and met the Head of Service – Mr. Ogunleye Fufeyin and the Chief Security Officer. The officials denied producing Miracle and Healing Water or Soap even with the evidence of the receipt of purchase. He claimed that only the Logo and address on the label were theirs but not the product. The HOS added that they only have a pool of Bethsaida water which is spiritual and artificial. The HOS requested time to meet with other staff and returned. He returned after 30 minutes and refused to cooperate, asking them to see the CSO.
“On August 27th, 2024, a team of Investigation and Enforcement NAFDAC and Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods visited the Ministry, to commence investigation on the place of purchase or the manufacturing site for possible sample collection, for laboratory analysis, but the officials did not cooperate with the team. Letters of invitation were issued to the officials to report on August 28th, but it was not honoured.
“The company instead submitted a Legal document at NAFDAC Headquarters Abuja on August 28th, 2024, and asked to come back on September 3rd, 2024 to organise their document before coming. The Agency then gave the Prophet till the 29th to report to the investigation and Enforcement NAFDAC Office Asaba for further necessary investigation.
“Investigation and Enforcement Asaba waited for the Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries officials based on their earlier request to report for commencement of the investigation, but they still refused to show up. On September 3rd, 2024, they forwarded some documents instead of asking for more time to report,” she explained.
The NAFDAC boss added that in a document made available to the NAFDAC Office on the evening of September 3rd, the faith organisation claimed to have entered into a production contract agreement with Globod Table Water Km 4, DSC Expressway, Otokutu, Delta State without the knowledge of NAFDAC State Office in Delta State.
She said the act is illegal according to the extant rules and regulations on commercial production.
Adeyeye also revealed that the agency had sealed the factory producing the products, Globod Table Water.
“In continuation of our investigation, NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement has sealed Globod Table Water factory for aiding and abetting the production, sale and advertisement of unregistered and unwholesome Miracle Water under the pretext of Fake NAFDAC Registration Number.
“At this point, it is obvious that Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries, KM 5, is not ready to present itself for investigation of production and advertisement of suspected falsified, unwholesome, and unregistered Miracle products.
“NAFDAC wishes to inform the public that none of these products being advertised and sold are registered with NAFDAC. The public is also being advised to stop patronizing any of these Miracle products. NAFDAC is a scientific organisation that is guided by verifiable scientific facts before registering any product.
“In the meantime, we will continue with our investigation into the activities of this faith organization with regard to products within our mandates that have been reported to be manufactured and sold by them. I want to use this opportunity to warn faith organizations against illegal production of regulated products without requisite regulatory requirements,” the statement added.
The NAFDAC DG, however, warned other faith organisations against the illegal production of regulated products without requisite regulatory requirements.
Copyright PUNCH
