The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned producers to strictly follow hygiene standards and digital registration procedures.
Mr Kenneth Azikiwe, Director of NAFDAC’s FCT directorate, said the warning followed inspections that revealed expired licences among several producers.
Azikiwe also educated members of the Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP), Mararaba-Karu branch, on the importance of compliance.
The agency highlighted regulatory timelines and advised on improving water quality across the FCT and parts of Nasarawa State, including Mararaba, Nyanya, and Karu.
He noted that producers were careless with water treatment, often misusing sterilisation equipment during production.
Azikiwe cited cases where workers unplugged ultraviolet sterilisers to charge phones and turned hygiene areas into kitchens.
He reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to public safety and urged compliance for the benefit of all Nigerians.
Azikiwe encouraged producers to use the agency’s digital platform, the NAFDAC Automated Products and Nutritional Monitoring System (NAPAMS), for easier access to services.
He added that laboratory samples are now processed weekly to speed up approvals and urged strict adherence to procedures.
Mrs Gloria Wilberford, Head of the Greater FCT Office in Mararaba, said NAPAMS had greatly improved after its upgrade to version 3.
She noted that laboratory submissions now occur every Wednesday, cutting delays that used to last over a month.
Wilberford said the agency’s aim was to support compliant businesses, not to penalise them.
She added that setting up offices in Mararaba and Suleja was meant to ease administrative hurdles in satellite towns.
Mr Michael Ajagbonna, Nasarawa Coordinator for the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, explained SON certifies products while NAFDAC handles their registration.
He stressed on mutual respect among regulators and the need to work within legal boundaries, despite overlapping duties.
ATWAP National Financial Secretary, Amb. Usman Diggi, said members struggle with digital literacy but promised to help identify non-compliant producers.
“As a union, we can’t sanction violators, but we will report them to NAFDAC,” he stated.
Mr John Michael, an ATWAP member, found the session informative and called for more stakeholder engagement.
He said the workshop clarified registration issues and gave members the tools and contacts needed to resolve them.
