In a public notice and enforcement directive issued on Saturday, the agency raised the alarm over what it described as a disturbing increase in the smuggling, sale and distribution of these items, all of which are listed on the Nigerian government’s Customs Prohibition List and are not permitted for importation into Nigeria.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public warning on the rising influx of prohibited food products, including pasta, noodles, sugar and tomato paste, illegally circulating in markets across Nigerian markets.
In a public notice and enforcement directive issued on Saturday, the agency raised the alarm over what it described as a disturbing increase in the smuggling, sale and distribution of these items, all of which are listed on the Nigerian government’s Customs Prohibition List and are not permitted for importation into Nigeria.
According to the statement signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the presence of such products on the market undermines national trade laws and poses serious public health risks, as they have not undergone NAFDAC’s mandatory safety evaluation and quality assurance procedures.
NAFDAC, which said it has intensified its regulatory enforcement, warned that “the circulation of such prohibited items violates national trade laws, undermines the integrity of the country’s food control system, and poses significant risks to public health.”
The agency directed all importers, supermarket operators, open-market traders and stakeholders in the food supply chain to immediately cease the importation, sale and distribution of all items on the Customs Prohibition List.
The agency further instructed stakeholders to alert their supply chain partners and discontinue any involvement with the affected products.
Failure to comply, NAFDAC cautioned, will lead to strict enforcement actions, including seizure and destruction of prohibited goods, suspension or revocation of operational licences and prosecution in line with existing laws.
NAFDAC also called for coordinated action among key government bodies, urging the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Shippers Council, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) to collaborate in curbing the movement of prohibited items into the country.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the health of Nigerians and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, urging stakeholders to cooperate fully with ongoing enforcement efforts.