NAFDAC shuts down two chemical firms in Edo

The National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed two chemical outlets in Benin City for selling chemicals without proper licenses and safety measures.  

The affected shops, Golden Juliros Nigeria Ltd. on Evbiemwen Street, Off Wire Road, and Onebamchi Chemicals at Ramat Park market, were shut down on Thursday by NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Unit from Asaba, in collaboration with the agency’s Edo office staff.

According to Edo Coordinator of NAFDAC, Esther Itua, the outlets had been under surveillance for years. Despite repeated advice to register as authorized chemical dealers, they continued to operate without compliance.

The operation underscores NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring public safety and regulating the chemical sector in Nigeria.

Itua said, “One of the statutory mandates of NAFDAC is to monitor and control the manufacture, distribution, sales, advert and use of regulated products including chemicals.

“For clients or people that want to deal in chemicals locally, there is what is called chemical listing. It is like a licence that is issued by the agency to those people who sell chemicals locally.

“Before that licence is issued, certain conditions must be met such as a registration as a company in Nigeria, warehouse to store the chemicals, staff, among other requirements,” she said.

The coordinator noted that the shops failed to perfect those conditions that could warrant the agency to inspect the facility.

“We have monitored that place for years, but waiting for when we will meet the owners. We have realised that Golden Juliros is one of the major chemical dealers in Edo.

We have been encouraging the owner to come for her chemical listing. It is renewable every two years.

“The facility is well located, but also operates without Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), particularly nose masks for staff,” she said.

The NAFDAC boss said task force from Asaba was involved because of the magnitude of the two facilities.