NAFDAC shuts down four water factories over poor manufacturing practices

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed four table water production factories for failing to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.

The affected factories include Oral Water and Logistics Limited, which produces Yireh Yaweh Table Water in Jikwoyi, and Le-Starlight Table Water, also in Jikwoyi, Abuja. Others are Daraja Table Water and Iris Table Water and Beverages, makers of Siris Table Water, both situated in the Karshi area of Nasarawa State, within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

During an enforcement exercise in Abuja on Monday, NAFDAC officials locked the facilities and summoned their operations managers for further questioning.

Wilberforce-Glory Albert, head of NAFDAC’s Mararaba subunit under the Greater FCT Directorate, explained that the agency acted due to concerns over the quality of water being produced at these locations.

She pointed out that the factories were shut down for multiple violations, including the absence of pallets for storing finished products, a lack of qualified production managers, and non-compliance with GMP requirements.

Additionally, some of the facilities were operating without proper licenses, had inadequate lighting, used substandard packaging materials, and employed staff who were not appropriately dressed for hygiene standards.

“These are the reasons why we sealed the factories and summoned their representatives for further investigation at our office,” she stated.

Albert also noted that the enforcement action was part of a broader crackdown on substandard production, following the establishment of a new NAFDAC office to oversee operations in Mararaba, Keffi, Nyanya, Jikwoyi, and Kurudu.

“This is just the beginning. We will continue these inspections, and any factory found violating GMP standards will face consequences. There is no room for substandard production,” she warned.

She further revealed that some of the sealed factories claimed to be registered with NAFDAC but failed to provide the necessary documentation, prompting their invitation for further scrutiny.

Those affected have been instructed to present all required documents at the NAFDAC office, where they may also be subject to penalties.

“If their licenses have expired, they will need to renew them and cover investigation costs,” Albert added.

NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring compliance and pledged to take further action against any factory engaged in illegal or substandard production practices.