NAFDAC Shuts Down Aba’s Eziukwu Market Over ₦5 Billion Worth of Fake and Expired Products
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed 150 shops at Eziukwu Market in Aba, Abia State, following a large-scale crackdown on counterfeit and expired goods. The two-day operation, conducted on December 16 and 17, 2024, uncovered illicit production and distribution of fake beverages, carbonated drinks, wines, spirits, vegetable oils, and revalidated food items, including noodles, powdered milk, and yoghurt. The destroyed items were estimated at a staggering ₦5 billion.
Describing the market as a notorious hub for counterfeit and substandard products, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s Director for the South-East Zone, lamented the persistence of illegal activities in the market. He noted that this occurred despite a commitment made by market leaders in December 2023 to expose counterfeiters and support regulatory efforts.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on such activities. She emphasized NAFDAC’s dedication to protecting public health and pledged to implement lasting measures to address the proliferation of fake and substandard products in the region.
