By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
VIOLATIONS OF Nigerian labelling regulations has led to the sealing of a popular supermarket in Wuse 2, Abuja.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) discovered that over 90% of the products sold at the store were labelled in Chinese, lacking the required English translations, while some were also found to have expired.
The supermarket, located at Azba Mall, 2 Durban Street, was targeted following credible intelligence received by NAFDAC.
According to Shaba Mohammed, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement and Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs, and Unwholesome Processed Foods, the operation aimed to protect consumers from potential harm.
“We found that more than 90% of the items on the shelves were labelled entirely in Chinese, making it impossible for Nigerians to understand the product details,” Mohammed explained.
“This is a clear violation of NAFDAC regulations, which require all imported products to include English translations.”
In addition to improper labelling, the agency discovered expired goods still displayed for sale, raising concerns about consumer safety. NAFDAC immediately sealed the premises and launched an investigation to uncover how the items entered the country and bypassed regulatory checks.
The director also stressed that selling items with foreign labels, whether in Chinese, Arabic, or any other language, is prohibited unless accompanied by an English translation.
He also noted the need to inspect the supermarket’s warehouse to prevent further sales of non-compliant products.
“The owners will be summoned for questioning, and the agency will conduct a thorough investigation,” Mohammed stated.
“We will ensure appropriate regulatory actions are taken against those responsible.”
NAFDAC then reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing compliance with Nigeria’s labelling laws to safeguard public health.
The agency also expressed its plans to track how the products entered the country, identifying any lapses at the ports of entry.
