The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down the popular Cemetery Market in Aba, Abia State, for the second time in two years.
NAFDAC said this was to curb the circulation of fake and substandard wine and beverages in Nigeria.
The agency’s Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement she signed on Tuesday, described the raid as “the most audacious action in the history of the market.
“The current action of NAFDAC is the most audacious since the history of the market with specific zones barricaded with iron welding and access gates locked till date. The operation carried out in conjunction with a large contingency of the military, DSS and Nigeria Police, in a rare display of inter-agency cooperation, was a follow up to a similar raid that was carried out in December 2023,” said the DG.
The agency said it uncovered and confiscated fake and substandard food and beverages worth over N5bn in its latest operation tagged Operation Clean Up Aba. According to the statement, the cemetery market is described as a hub for Africa’s largest counterfeit wine and beverage cartel notorious for producing fake alcoholic drinks, carbonated beverages, and food products.
During the operation, over 240 makeshift factories were said to have been discovered producing counterfeit products under unsanitary conditions.
Adeyeye revealed that these factories used harmful chemicals, contaminated water and recycled bottles to manufacture fake versions of popular brands, including Hennessy, Seaman Schnapps, Coca-Cola, Sprite, Peak Milk and Hollandia Yoghurt.
“These criminal elements use unhygienic sources of water, saccharin, colouring agents, and harmful chemicals unsuitable for human consumption. The adulteration of alcoholic beverages involves cheaper sugars and starches instead of fruits or grapes,” the Director General explained.
She further said that over 1,500 cartons of fake products were destroyed on-site, with the total street value of the seized and destroyed goods estimated at N750 million. Adding that the estimated value of products mopped up during the December 15, 2024 operation is at N5 billion
“Over 1500 cartons of the fake and substandard products were destroyed during the operation. The street value of the confiscated and destroyed fake products in 2023 is estimated at over seven hundred and fifty million naira only. (N750,000,000). The estimated value of products mopped up during the December 15, 2024, operation is five billion naira.”
She said the operation also led to the discovery of three warehouses that had stockpiled expired Hollandia Yoghurt for revalidation on January 22.
The agency commended the Abia State Government, led by Governor Alex Otti, for supporting the raid.
“The unwavering support of Governor Alex Otti, the Mayor of Aba South, and the interim market management committee has been critical to the success of Operation Clean Up Aba,” Adeyeye said.
She further urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report any suspicious products to the nearest NAFDAC office and also assured of its determination in safeguarding the health of the nation.
