The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down 16 sachet water factories in Rivers State over alleged violations of health, safety and regulatory standards.
The agency said the affected facilities were discovered during an enforcement exercise conducted across several local government areas in the state as part of efforts to ensure compliance within the sachet water production sector.
In a statement issued on Friday, Cyril Monye, NAFDAC’s South-South zonal spokesperson, said the operation covered Asari Toru, Akuku Toru, Degema and Ikwerre local government areas.
According to him, the owners and operators of the affected factories have been invited for questioning as investigations continue.
Chukwuma Oligbu, NAFDAC’s South-South zonal director, said the exercise was aimed at sanitising the sachet water industry and protecting consumers from unsafe packaged water products.
Oligbu said inspectors found some factories operating under unhygienic conditions, while others allegedly used unsafe filtration systems, operated with expired licences or provided false operational addresses.
He warned that facilities found operating illegally or obstructing regulatory officials would face immediate closure and possible prosecution.
The zonal director also cautioned sachet water producers against manufacturing unregistered products or operating without valid licences.
He urged members of the public to report illegal water production activities in their communities, stressing that public cooperation is essential to safeguarding consumers and maintaining standards in the industry.
