The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down Jaff Foods Limited, a rice factory in Niger State, due to unhygienic processing methods.
During a routine inspection, the Director of NAFDAC’s North Central Zone, Shaba Mohammed, identified significant lapses in the factory’s production environment, which failed to meet good manufacturing practices.
Although Jaff Foods Limited holds a registration with NAFDAC, the inspection revealed that the facility’s production environment was unsanitary. “The rice processing facility has been sealed and given compliance directives for not adhering to the regulations required for production and certification,” Mohammed stated. He also noted that key personnel at the factory lacked essential knowledge in production processes.
In a related operation, NAFDAC also placed a hold on dispenser water produced by Golden Age Water for lacking batch coding and date marking. Additionally, unregistered herbal teas were confiscated from Jonapal Supermarket in Minna.
To address these issues and enhance regulatory compliance, NAFDAC organized a one-day workshop for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to educate stakeholders about the Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS). This e-registration and data capture system simplifies the application process for product registration with NAFDAC, aiming to streamline interactions between the agency and businesses.
Mohammed encouraged SMEs to utilize NAPAMS and urged the public to report any products that could pose a danger to public health. “People should always check the expiry dates of products before purchasing them. If you suspect an expiry date, report it to NAFDAC,” he added.
James Kigbu, the NAFDAC coordinator for Niger State, reiterated the importance of the workshop in sensitizing SMEs about the NAPAMS portal, enhancing the ease of doing business with the agency.
