An illegal alcohol manufacturing factory operating in Badagry, Lagos State, has been closed down by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The agency, in a statement Sunday, May 12, noted that enforcement officers, aided by intelligence from the Nigerian Army’s 15 Field Engineering Regiment in Badagry, dismantled the operations of Chinedu Okafor, the manufacturer of the illegal drinks.
Okafor, reported to be operating from his residence, will face prosecution, and all illegal products, with an estimated value of over ₦50,000,000, will be destroyed.
NAFDAC explained that the manufacturer’s activities caught the attention of the Nigerian Army, leading to his arrest and subsequent handover to NAFDAC officers at the Ports Inspection Directorate, Seme Border.
“Upon inspection, officers evacuated all equipment and materials used in the production of illicit drinks and effectively shut down the illegal factory,” it said.
“Investigations revealed Okafor’s longstanding involvement in the activity, which has potentially compromised regulated alcohol drinks in the Badagry area.”
NAFDAC further explained that drinking adulterated alcohol can cause nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, drowsiness, dizziness, irregular or slow breathing, low body temperature, and unconsciousness, among others.
The agency also noted that fake alcohol can lead to kidney and liver failure or even death, adding that methanol, a substance which can be used in fake vodka, can cause permanent blindness.
NAFDAC cited WHO’s Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, which estimated that globally, more than three million people die every year as a result of alcohol poisoning.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) also revealed that 10% of cancer cases in Nigeria can be traced to alcohol and 4.7% of all cancer cases in Nigeria in 2019 can be attributed to the consumption of fake alcohol.
NAFDAC emphasized the need for public vigilance and urged citizens to report suspicious activities to safeguard public health.
