The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has shut down multiple illegal sachet water factories in Dutse Alhaji and Dawaki in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, over unsafe production practices and non-compliance with regulatory standards.

The enforcement operation led to the closure of over 40 unregistered facilities using substandard equipment and operating in unhygienic environments. Several factories were found fraudulently producing multiple brands under the same ownership, raising serious public health concerns.

Kenneth Azikiwe, Director of NAFDAC’s FCT directorate, stated that the clampdown was part of a broader campaign to enforce Good Manufacturing Practices, GMP, and protect consumers from unsafe products. The operation followed directives from NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, as part of intensified efforts to regulate food and beverage manufacturing.

Beyond water factories, NAFDAC also sealed over 14 non-compliant bakeries in Mararaba, Nyanya, Zuba, and Gwagwalada, working in collaboration with the Nigerian police and other security agencies.

READ ALSO: NAFDAC destroys ₦4.7 billion fake drugs

Dr Promise Ogbonna, Assistant Director at NAFDAC and a lead officer in the enforcement, described shocking violations uncovered at the sites. Many facilities lacked essential water treatment systems, including sand filters, carbon filters, and functional UV sterilisation. Some were even found with toilets facing production areas, bags of water left exposed, and poor packaging controls.

Holding sachets from brands like Alpha and Omega, Kegonis, Al-Nurain, Asig, and Concept—all linked to the same illegal operator—Ogbonna stressed the risks posed by these unregulated products.

In a bid to dismantle the supply chain, NAFDAC is extending its investigation to printing presses supplying fake identification numbers to illegal water producers.

Azikiwe urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, purchasing consumable products only from reputable and properly registered sources to safeguard their health.

NAN