NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) has shut down 150 shops at Eziukwu Market in Aba, Abia State, following a two-day operation on December 16-17, 2024.
The raid uncovered widespread production and sale of counterfeit and expired items, including carbonated drinks, wines, spirits, vegetable oils, and revalidated food products like noodles, powdered milk, and yoghurt. The total value of the destroyed goods is estimated at ₦5 billion.
Dr. Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s Director for the South-East Zone, condemned the market’s role as a hub for substandard products, expressing disappointment that such illegal activities persisted despite a December 2023 agreement with market leaders to expose counterfeiters.
NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance policy for these practices and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health while seeking long-term solutions to the counterfeit problem.
