The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed off a Chinese supermarket in Abuja for allegedly selling expired products labeled exclusively in Chinese without the required English translations.
NAFDAC, in a statement yesterday said that the supermarket, located at Azba Mall, 2 Durban Street, Wuse 2, is managed by Chinese nationals who claimed they were in the process of obtaining a NAFDAC license and translating product labels into English, in compliance with regulatory requirements.
Director of Investigation and Enforcement of the NDLEA, Pharm. Shaba Mohammed, who led the enforcement, said the action followed credible information about regulatory violations at the supermarket.
“We conducted due diligence to verify the claims,” he said.
Mohammed said the agency will continue its investigation to determine how such products, which violate labeling regulations, were imported into the country without being intercepted.
He added that the investigation would extend to the warehouse where the goods were stored, noting that 90 per cent of the products on the shelves were labeled in Chinese.
“This action aims to protect public safety by preventing the sale of these items,” he emphasised.
“Selling products labeled in foreign languages without English translation is a clear violation of our laws. If a product is labeled in languages such as Arabic, Chinese, or Hindi, it must have an English translation. More than 90 per cent of the products we found were labeled in Chinese.”
See also Why Africa must tackle governance, leadership issues –-Moghalu…As African School of Governance Launche A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, has emphasized the need for Africa to address governance and leadership challenges, stating that getting these right is crucial for economic growth and development. Moghalu made this statement in Lagos during the launch of the African School of Governance (ASG). The ASG was established in response to concerns about governance and leadership structures across the continent. It was founded by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. According to the founders, the school’s mission is centered on three core pillars: Providing innovative public policy education Conducting cutting-edge research Creating a platform for policy engagement These pillars aim to foster transformative governance rooted in Africa’s unique values and opportunities. The school, which began its admission process on February 1st and will commence academic activities in September, has appointed Prof. Moghalu—a globally recognized expert—as its inaugural president. At the Lagos launch, moderated by Vanguard columnist Donu Kogbara, Moghalu elaborated on the school’s objectives and future aspirations. He stated: “ASG is set to systematically address governance and leadership issues through our three thematic areas. With the right leadership, we can drive economic growth and development. We aim to train future leaders with a mindset that promotes equality, inclusivity, and a spirit of public service.” Moghalu highlighted the school’s curriculum, which is currently under review, and noted that the faculty includes eminent African leaders such as: HE Olusegun Obasanjo – Former President of Nigeria and HE Paul Kagame – President of Rwanda Makhtar Diop – Managing Director, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and former Senegalese Minister of Finance The ASG also collaborates with leading global institutions, including the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the University of Singapore and the Mastercard Foundation. According to Moghalu, the school’s short-term goals include: Recruiting top-tier faculty and Refurbishing its six-storey campus donated by the Rwandan government In the medium term, the school aims to graduate its first cohort within two years. In the long term (10 years), ASG envisions its alumni making significant impacts across Africa and the global stage. Providing an overview of the academic offerings, Ms. Ngozichukwu Njemanze, Director and Senior Policy Adviser to the ASG President, outlined the various programmes available: Master of Public Administration (MPA): A two-year, full-time flagship programme Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA): A two-year, part-time hybrid programme General Executive Courses: Short programmes lasting two to three weeks Young Professional Training Programme: Six weeks, full-time Senior Leadership Fellowship: Six-month residency programme Njemanze also noted that fellowships and scholarships will be offered through a need-blind admission process. Prospective applicants must pay a non-refundable $50 application fee and complete their applications online by uploading the required documents. With its innovative approach to leadership training and support from global partners, ASG is poised to become a driving force for transformative governance and sustainable development across Africa.
He also highlighted concerns about Nigerian customers being unable to read the labels. “Some of the products are expired and still being sold,” he pointed out.
“Even if the supermarket had a Global Listing permit, the products should have been labeled in English. They have not provided any NAFDAC documents for these items. This is unacceptable, which is why we had to seal the supermarket,” he said.
He stressed that NAFDAC will invite operators of the supermarket for a thorough investigation.
“You cannot operate in Nigeria and disregard our laws. This is a country, and we have rules that must be followed,” Mohammed stressed.
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