In a decisive move to safeguard public health, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has executed a comprehensive mop-up operation in Maiduguri, Borno State, targeting markets affected by recent flooding. This initiative aims to eliminate food and drug items contaminated by floodwaters, preventing their re-introduction into the market and averting potential disease outbreaks.
The operation covered several key locations, including Gamboru Drug and Food Market, Monday Market, Open Air Theatre Drug Market, and Gwange Drug Market. NAFDAC announced the success of this initiative via its official X handle.
Mr. Kenneth Azikiwe, the Director of NAFDAC Northeast, emphasized the urgent need for this operation. “The recent floods have significantly threatened public health by contaminating essential supplies. Our swift action is crucial to ensure that only safe and uncontaminated products are available to the public,” he stated.
Under the guidance of NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Christianah Mojisola Adeyeye, officials from Borno, Yobe, Gombe, and the NAFDAC area laboratory meticulously inspected and removed compromised items valued at over N5 billion.
In addition to the mop-up, NAFDAC has provided vital guidelines to market vendors and the public on identifying and handling potentially contaminated products. All manufacturing facilities in flood-affected areas have been closed for reassessment of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) before production can resume.
NAFDAC has pledged to continue surveillance and monitoring across Maiduguri to cover any areas not included in this operation. The agency reaffirms its commitment to protecting the health of Nigerians by ensuring all food and drug products meet the highest safety and quality standards.
The floods in Maiduguri and Jere have displaced over 600,000 people, severely damaging hospitals and exacerbating a growing health crisis, according to the Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD). The contaminated conditions in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps have heightened the risk of cholera, typhoid, and dysentery outbreaks.
As NAFDAC intensifies its efforts, the public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious products to the nearest agency office.
