The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has shut 16 sachet water factories in Rivers State for sundry reasons, including operating without license.

NAFDAC said the factories were shut when it’s officials carried out an enforcement operation in some local government areas of the state.

NAFDAC Director, South-South Zone, Chukwuma Oligbu, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday.

The statement signed by Cyril Monye, NAFDAC’s Public Relations Officer, South-South Zone said the operation took place in four local government area of the state.

He listed the LGAs as Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Degema and Ikwerre respectively.

Oligbu warned producers of sachet water to stop producing unregistered packaged water, while urging those with expired licences to initiate renewal or be prepared to face the wrath of the law.

The statement partly reads, “The operation which was carried out in the four LGAs led to the closure of 16 sachet water factories while their owners were invited to the NAFDAC office.

“The sachet water include: Obra Bo table water, Abalama, Asari Toru LGA; Loilia Table Water, Okpo, Degema LGA; Jima Table Water, Obuama Harry Town, Degema LGA and Inye Table Water Obuama Harry Town, Degema LGA.

“Others are Obuta table water, Obuama Harry Town, Degema LGA; S.P. Nimi Table Water, Obuama Harry Town, Degema LGA; Soaltam Table Water, Obuama Harry Town, Degema LGA and Piasso Table Water, Usokun, Degema LGA.

“Also shut down are: Imumsco Table Water, Port Harcourt – Degema Road, Degema LGA; Granpa Table Water, Abonnema, Akuku Toru LGA; Daa Ajuka Table Water, Abonnema, Akuku Toru LGA and Diob Table Water Abonnema, Akuku Toru LGA. At Ikwere LGA, four factories were shut down, they include; AQUA-TOBSON Table Water, DUCO Table Water, CHISODEK Table Water and NEO BRAIN Table Water.”

The NAFDAC Director, South-South revealed that the sachet water factories were operating under poor hygienic conditions, dirty filters, use of handkerchief as filters, expired licences, labelling lapses and wrong factory address.

Oligbu further warned against siting of factories in a filling station, pointing out that it is against NAFDAC regulations, saying the agency will not hesitate to permanently shut down such factories if found.

Such practices he added were against the law that established the agency for producers to obstruct NAFDAC officials from carrying out their lawful duties and those that indulged in such act risk arrest and prosecution.

He said that there will be no hiding place for any ‘clandestine’ production of ratchet water as the agency’s activities cover all parts of the state.

While noting that hard times awaits unscrupulous producers of NAFDAC regulated products, Oligbu urged the public to always report to the agency whenever they observe any unwholesome and illicit productions or sale of unregistered NAFDAC regulated products.

Oligbu said information will lead to prompt action from NAFDAC officials thereby preventing such illegal product from going into circulation.

NAFDAC has in recent years intensified enforcement operations across the country as part of efforts to curb the circulation of unwholesome food, drinks and counterfeit regulated products, especially sachet water produced under unsafe conditions. (The PUNCH)