The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has closed four table water production factories for failing to comply with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.
The affected companies include Oral Water and Logistics Limited, producers of Yireh Yaweh Table Water in Jikwoyi, and Le-Starlight Table Water, also based in Jikwoyi, Abuja. Others are Daraja Table Water and Iris Table Water and Beverages, manufacturers of Siris Table Water, both located in Karshi, Nasarawa State, within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
During an enforcement operation in Abuja on Monday, NAFDAC officials sealed off the facilities and summoned their operations managers for further questioning.
Wilberforce-Glory Albert, head of NAFDAC’s Mararaba subunit under the Greater FCT Directorate, stated that the agency took action due to concerns about the quality of water being produced by these factories.
She explained that several violations were discovered, including the absence of proper storage pallets, lack of qualified production managers, and failure to meet GMP requirements. Additionally, some of the factories were operating without valid licenses, lacked adequate lighting, used improper packaging materials, and had staff who were not properly equipped to maintain hygiene standards.
“These issues led to the immediate sealing of the factories, and their representatives have been invited for further investigations at our office,” she said.
Albert noted that this enforcement exercise is part of a larger effort to regulate production facilities in the region. She emphasized that a newly established NAFDAC office will oversee compliance in areas including Mararaba, Keffi, Nyanya, Jikwoyi, and Kurudu.
“This is just the beginning. Our inspections will continue, and any facility that fails to meet the required standards will face strict consequences. Manufacturers must comply with GMP regulations,” she warned.
She also revealed that some of the sealed factories claimed to be registered but could not provide the necessary documentation, which prompted their invitation for further scrutiny.
The affected businesses must now present their registration documents at the NAFDAC office and may also be subject to fines.
“If their licenses have expired, they will need to renew them and cover the costs of investigations,” Albert added.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring compliance with manufacturing standards and vowed to take further action against any company engaged in illegal or substandard production practices.
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