Sale of unregistered processed and packaged food products in both physical and online markets despite the existence of regulatory agencies poses significant risks to public health and safety, reports CHIJIOKE IREMEKA

At a busy makeshift stall in Oyingbo Market, Lagos known for its vast sales of food items, Mr John Udom, a trader in his late thirties, was serving his many customers.
With a blend of humour and skilful price haggling, he reassured each buyer that they would be satisfied with their purchases.

After a few minutes of lively negotiations with the other customers, he turned to our correspondent and in the same manner, requested what items would be purchased.

Our correspondent requested several brands of packaged powdered paps, corn and cassava flours.

Seemingly glad to have a customer with multiple orders, Udom reeled off the order to his shop assistant stationed in the inner parts of the shop.

Shortly after, the items were brought and the trader listed the prices of each item.

In a bid to confirm the correctness of the product, this correspondent carefully perused each item for the brand’s name and product labelling, which includes, the declaration of content of ingredients under composition, expiry or best before and manufacture dating as well as the batch or lot numbers.

According to the Pre-Packaged Food, Water and Ice (Labelling) Regulations 2019 of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, it is prohibited to manufacture, import, export, distribute, advertise, sell or use a pre-packaged food without a date marking, batch number, registration number, name of the food, brand name, labelling information, list of ingredients, name, address and contact information of the manufacturer or distributor, among other requirements.

Date marking involves a legible display of “the day, month and year of manufacture on the label; when a food must be consumed before a certain date to ensure its safety and quality the “Use-by Date” or “Expiration Date”, the “Best-Before Date” or “Best Quality Before Date” shall be declared.”

Missing NAFDAC REG NO

Still at Udom’s store, this correspondent discovered that almost all the packaged items lacked a NAFDAC Registration Number, the manufacturer’s details, except cell phone numbers.

The NAFDAC REG NO or NRN is a unique registration number or certificate of registration issued after a product has passed the quality and standard test carried out by the agency.

After the discovery, this correspondent told Udom that the items lacked the numbers.

For example, the powdered pap and fufu (cassava flour) produced by Madam Aloevera Foods, had no NRN and no product details, except an address of No 1, Market Street, Oyingbo, Lagos State and a phone number.

A check of NAFDAC’s registration site for the food product brought the result, “No matching records found.”

source: punchng.com

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Hon. Tunde Diya on his well-deserved nomination as the APC candidate for the upcoming Odogbolu local government elections.

His selection is a testament to his dedication, leadership, and steadfast commitment to serving the community. It reflects the trust and confidence both the party and the people have in his ability to bring about meaningful progress and positive change.

As he embarks on this new chapter, we are confident that his vision, experience, and passion for public service will continue to drive development at the grassroots level.

We wish him great success in the elections and look forward to seeing his dynamic leadership in action for the benefit of all. Best wishes for a successful and impactful tenure ahead.

Ogunspeaks Media

The National Inland Waterways Authority has disclosed that the boat mishap in which the popular Nollywood actor, Johnpaul Odonwodo, popularly known as “Junior Pope,” and others lost their lives was caused by ignorance, negligence, and non-adherence to due process on the waters.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, disclosed this in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Thursday, during the ‘2024 safety sensitisation campaign on Nigerian waterways’ organised for boat operators, stakeholders, and staff.

PUNCH Online had reported that the news of  Junior Pope’s death was shared on Wednesday, April 10, by filmmaker, Samuel Olatunji.

“Four actors, including Jnr Pope, fell into the Anam River on their way to a location, and their bodies have been recovered,” he had said.

Family, fans, and celebrities were in tears as the late actor was laid to rest on May 17 in his hometown of Ukehe in the Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Oyebamiji, represented by the Area Manager of NIWA, Suleiman A. Nicholas, said the passengers on the ill-fated boat did not pass through the normal process as they just went to the waterfront and jumped into the boat and moved.

He said, “The boat mishap in which Junior Pope and others lost their lives was caused by ignorance, they did not pass through the normal process, they just went to the waterfront and jumped into the boat and moved.

They were demonstrating inside the boat and their demonstrations caught the attention of the boat operator before they realised their mistake. They hit a wooden object that capsized their boat and they sank and got drowned, and unfortunately, they were not on life jackets. It was an avoidable death and unfortunate. May their souls rest in peace.”During the sensitisation, he, however, said NIWA had warned boat operators and passengers that ply the waterways to register their boats with the agency to avoid arrest and seizure of such boats by NIWA Police.

According to him, NIWA has issued a marching order of “No life jacket, no travel” to boat operators and passengers across the country, warning that if any boat operators or passengers are caught operating or travelling without a life jacket, they will be severely dealt with or face prosecution.

source: punchng.com