NAFDAC to sanction Nasarawa bakers, water producers over unwholesome practices

The National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has warned bakers and table water producers in Nasarawa State against unwholesome practices or face sanctions.

Mr Francis Ononiwu, North-Central Director of the agency, issued the warning at a stakeholders’ engagement with Master Bakers and the Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP) on Friday in Lafia.

Ononiwu said that the engagement was part of the agency’s strategy to interface with the stakeholders and remind them of the basic requirements to sustain the quality of their products.

He explained that water and food were essential to the lives of the citizenry and that the agency would ensure the public buy and consume only healthy water and bread.

The director noted that bread was one of the basic foods eaten by most households in Nigeria, hence the need to maintain its standard.

“We are reminding you to know that you have to maintain the quality products that are presented and we see during routine inspections.

“You have to adhere to our regulations and operational guidelines from the source of your raw material to the point of packaging.

“Your products cannot be of high quality and standard when you compromise any of the processes in the stages of the production,” he said.

Ononiwu said that the agency would continue to give priority to protecting the health of the public in line with their mantra.

He added that every manufacturer of regulated products must renew his or her registration within the stipulated period or face sanction.

“We will continue to go out for routine inspections, and anyone who fails to renew his registration or violates the operational guidelines will be sanctioned.

“We have the power to shut down a factory or to seal it and to even prosecute violators,” he added.

Similarly, Mr Matthew Olawale, Nasarawa State Coordinator of NAFDAC said that the forum was a platform for the stakeholders to interface and present their challenges to the regulator in order to improve their relationship for the benefit of society.

He urged the bakers and table water producers to ensure that their registration documents were valid.

Olawale also advised them against deliberately violating the agency’s guidelines while doing their business.

Alfred Alogala, Former Chairman of ATWAP in the state, lauded NAFDAC for the initiative and expressed optimism that it would help them to continue to maintain standards.

He, therefore, urged their members to continue to adhere to standard practice in the production of water and food products that do not cause infections and diseases when consumed by the people.