• Confiscates fake branded bags, seals facilities

— Operators refuse to disclose source of rice

By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has shut down three major food warehouses in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, over alleged illegal re-bagging of rice and other infractions aimed at deceiving unsuspecting consumers.

The agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has vowed to clamp down on individuals she described as “merchants of death” involved in the illicit trade of regulated food products.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, the NAFDAC State Coordinator, Mrs Stella Dosumu, said the warehouses were sealed on Wednesday following a tip-off from a concerned citizen.

Dosumu revealed: “Our surveillance team confirmed that illegal re-bagging of rice was ongoing in the warehouses. We discovered bales of empty bags branded with popular local and foreign rice labels, alongside sewing and sealing machines used in the process.”

She disclosed that the warehouse operators refused to provide details on the source of the rice, raising concerns over its quality and safety.

“This is a serious violation that poses health risks to consumers. Misleading labelling is not just fraudulent but endangers public safety,” she added.

The agency said samples of the seized rice had been taken for laboratory analysis, while the warehouses remain sealed pending further regulatory action.

“NAFDAC will not relent in its duty to protect Nigerians from unsafe food and drug products. The public is urged to report similar illegal activities,” the statement read