The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down 16 sachet water factories in Rivers State for allegedly violating regulatory and safety standards.
In a statement issued on Friday, Cyril Monye, NAFDAC’s south-south zonal spokesperson, said the affected factories were sealed during an enforcement operation conducted across several local government areas in the state.
According to him, the exercise covered Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Degema, and Ikwerre LGAs, where inspectors identified multiple breaches of health and safety regulations.
Monye disclosed that the owners and operators of the affected facilities have been invited for questioning as investigations continue.
Speaking on the operation, Chukwuma Oligbu, NAFDAC’s South-South zonal director, said the exercise was part of efforts to sanitise the sachet water production sector and ensure strict compliance with regulatory requirements.
He stated that some of the factories were operating under unhygienic conditions, while others allegedly used unsafe filtration systems, operated with expired licences, or provided false operational addresses.
Oligbu warned that any factory found operating illegally or obstructing NAFDAC officials during enforcement activities would face immediate closure and possible prosecution.
He also cautioned sachet water producers against manufacturing unregistered products or operating without valid licences.
The NAFDAC official urged members of the public to report illegal sachet water production activities in their communities, noting that such cooperation is essential to protecting consumers from unsafe packaged drinking water.
