The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has impounded expired food products valued at more than N100 million in Bida, Niger State. The agency also sealed at least 18 warehouses following the discovery.
The enforcement action was carried out as part of NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to eliminate unsafe and substandard products from the market. The development was confirmed in Abuja.
According to the agency, the expired food items were discovered during an operation in Bida. Officials subsequently moved to seal the affected warehouses to prevent further distribution of the products.
The seized goods were said to have exceeded their shelf life, making them unfit for human consumption. NAFDACnterveto protected at protecting pupreventh and preventing potential health risks associated with expired food items.
The operation underscores the agency’s regulatory mandate to ensure that food and other consumable products in circulation meet approved safety standards. NAFDAC is responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water in Nigeria.
By sealing the 18 warehouses, the agency effectively halted the storage and possible distribution of the expired products. The value of the confiscated goods was estimated at over N100 million.
NAFDAC has consistently warned distributors and warehouse operators against stocking expired or substandard goods. The agency maintains that such practices pose serious dangers to consumers and violate existing regulations.
Expired food products can lose their nutritional value and, in some cases, become contaminated. Consumption of such items may lead to foodborne illnesses and other health complications.
The enforcement exercise in Bida forms part of broader surveillance and compliance monitoring activities carried out across the country. NAFDAC routinely conducts inspections of markets, warehouses, and retail outlets to ensure adherence to safety guidelines.
The sealing of the warehouses serves as both a corrective and deterrent measure. It sends a message to other operators that regulatory breaches will attract sanctions.
NAFDAC has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the health of Nigerians by ensuring that only safe and quality products are available in the market. The agency continues to collaborate with other stakeholders to strengthen enforcement and compliance.
The action in Niger State highlights the scale of the challenge posed by expired and substandard goods in parts of the country. It also reflects the agency’s resolve to address such issues through coordinated enforcement operations.
Consumers have been advised to remain vigilant and check expiry dates before purchasing food items. Retailers and distributors are equally expected to comply with regulatory standards and remove expired goods from circulation promptly.
The impounded products are expected to be disposed of in line with established regulatory procedures. Such disposal processes are typically supervised to ensure that the items do not find their way back into the market.
NAFDAC’s latest move in Bida reinforces its role as a key public health agency. By intercepting expired products valued at over N100 million and sealing 18 warehouses, the agency has taken significant steps to curb the distribution of unsafe food items in Niger State.
The development adds to a series of enforcement actions aimed at sanitising the food supply chain. Authorities have indicated that monitoring and surveillance activities will continue to protect consumers and uphold safety standards nationwide.
