Agriculture

NAFDAC Shuts Down Private Rice Factory in Niger State Over Unhygienic Practices

Written by Jerry Alomatu on May 25, 2024

News Views: 392

In a decisive move to uphold food safety standards, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down a private rice factory in Niger State due to unhygienic practices. This action followed a routine inspection of the facility, highlighting serious concerns over its production environment and adherence to good manufacturing practices.

Shaba Mohammed, NAFDAC’s Director for the North-Central Zone, emphasized the severity of the violations. “Despite the facility being registered with our agency, the production environment was found to be unhygienic and not in line with the established good manufacturing practices,” Mohammed stated. The factory has been sealed and given specific directives to achieve compliance before any resumption of operations.

Further compounding the issue, Mohammed noted that several key workers at the factory lacked essential knowledge in production processes. This lack of expertise posed additional risks to the safety and quality of the rice being processed at the facility.

In light of this incident, Mohammed urged small and medium enterprises to utilize the Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS). This e-registration and data capture system provides a streamlined online medium for product registration with NAFDAC, aimed at simplifying compliance and ensuring that all food products meet safety standards.

Mohammed also called on the public to remain vigilant and report any practices that could endanger lives to NAFDAC, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to safeguarding public health through stringent regulatory oversight and community involvement.