In response to the recent flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has started removing flood-contaminated food and drugs from circulation, News About Nigeria reports.
This was carried out in the Gamboru drug and food market, Monday market, Open Air Theatre drug market, and the Gwange drug market.
NAFDAC’s resident media consultant, Sayo Akintola, confirmed the operation on Tuesday in a statement, explaining that it was necessary to prevent the sale of compromised items that could lead to disease outbreaks.
The flooding had severely impacted the Gomboru market, where some contaminated products were reportedly washed and sun-dried for resale.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, ordered the immediate closure of the Gomboru market and initiated a thorough removal of compromised goods.
Kenneth Azikiwe, the Director of NAFDAC in the North-East, said, “The recent floods have posed a significant risk to public health by contaminating food and drug supplies. Our swift action in these markets is crucial to ensure that only safe and uncontaminated products are available to the public.”
The statement revealed that the compromised items, valued at over N5 billion, were carefully removed during the operation, which involved NAFDAC officials from Borno, Yobe, Gombe, and the area laboratory.
The agency also closed down manufacturing facilities in flood-affected areas to allow for a reassessment of good manufacturing practices before production can resume.
NAFDAC provided guidelines to vendors and the public on identifying and handling potentially contaminated products.
The agency reassured the public that surveillance and monitoring efforts would continue across Maiduguri to ensure the safety of food and drug products.
“NAFDAC remains committed to safeguarding the health of Nigerians by ensuring that all food and drug products meet the highest standards of safety and quality,” the statement concluded. The public has been urged to report any suspicious or compromised products to the nearest NAFDAC office.
