The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has closed the Eziukwu Market in Aba, Abia state following an earlier discovery and interception of counterfeit beverages and consumables.
The agency says it will open the market after an agreement that will guarantee the market is sanitised is reached.
This is the sealed Eziukwu Market in Aba, Abia state, Here, officials of NAFDAC, discovered and intercepted counterfeiters producing a variety of beverages including wines, soft drinks and consumables.
Over 1500 cartons of the fake and substandard products were destroyed during the operation while 300 hundred cartons were evacuated to NAFDAC warehouse.
The street value of the confiscated and destroyed fake products is estimated at over seven hundred and fifty million naira only.
Ten people have been arrested on arrival at the scene of the crime and will be charged to court after thorough investigation.
Methanol, a substance which can be used in fake vodka is one of the major ingredients used in these adulterated products, the World Health Organisation in their Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health estimated that more than three million people have died all over the world as a result of alcohol poisoning.
This is perhaps the last time the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) will brief the media this year. A word of advice to members of the public is, during this yuletide season, think about the “4 Ps” before buying alcohol.
