Public Health Alert: NAFDAC Shuts 18 Bida Warehouses Stocked With ₦100m Worth of Toxic Food

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed 18 warehouses in Bida, after discovering large stockpiles of expired food and beverage products estimated to exceed ₦100 million in value.

Officers from NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate acted on credible intelligence reports that pointed to the storage and planned redistribution of unsafe goods. The targeted facilities, concentrated around Ndazabo White House along Minna Road and behind Bida Modern Market, contained a wide assortment of expired items ready for market entry.

The Seized Inventory

The recovered items included products that had already been packaged for distribution to unsuspecting consumers. The inventory consists of:

• Approximately 80,000 packets of non-alcoholic beverages

• 5,000 packets of dairy milk

• 16,000 packets of bottled water

• 28 cartons of pasta

• Various candies and other assorted food products

Many items were found to have been repackaged or relabeled in apparent attempts to extend shelf life or conceal expiration dates, significantly increasing the health risk to the public.

Investigation into BY Ventures

During the operation, NAFDAC operatives arrested several warehouse managers for questioning. Preliminary findings have linked the facilities to a company identified as BY Ventures, which operates supermarkets in Minna.

Following this lead, NAFDAC extended its inspection to the company’s outlets in the state capital, where officials uncovered additional expired stock and suspected counterfeit Goya cooking oil. Consequently, the supermarkets were sealed, and the Managing Director, Alhaji Yusuf Nadabo, was summoned for interrogation. According to NAFDAC, Nadabo has since admitted ownership of the expired products.

Public Health Warning

NAFDAC issued a stern warning that consuming expired products can lead to serious foodborne illnesses caused by dangerous bacteria or nutrient degradation. The agency urged consumers to:

1. Inspect Expiry Dates: Carefully check all packaged food and drinks before purchase.

2. Watch for Tampering: Avoid items with damaged packaging, unusual smells, or visible changes in appearance.

3. Report Suspicious Goods: Use the NAFDAC toll-free helpline at 0800-162-3322 or visit the nearest NAFDAC office.

The agency reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for counterfeit and expired goods, affirming that investigations are ongoing and appropriate regulatory sanctions will be applied to serve as a deterrent.