The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed 18 warehouses in Bida, Niger State, after discovering large quantities of expired food and beverages valued at more than ₦100 million.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, said the warehouses were shut following credible intelligence received by the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement team.
The warehouses, located around Ndazabo White House along Minna Road and behind Bida Modern Market, contained expired non-alcoholic beverages, dairy milk, candies, bottled water, and pasta. Some of the products had already been packaged for distribution.
Adeyeye said five persons were arrested during the operation. She explained that about 80,000 packets of expired non-alcoholic drinks, 5,000 packets of dairy milk, 16,000 packets of bottled water, and 28 cartons of pasta were recovered.
Managers of the warehouses were taken in for interrogation. Preliminary findings linked the facilities to a company identified as BY Ventures.
NAFDAC extended its operation to supermarkets owned by the company in Minna. Additional expired products and counterfeit Goya oil were allegedly found there. Both supermarkets were sealed.
The Managing Director of BY Ventures, Alhaji Yusuf Nadabo, was invited for questioning. According to NAFDAC, he admitted ownership of the expired products during interrogation.
Regulatory Action Underway
Adeyeye said investigations are ongoing. She noted that appropriate regulatory sanctions would be imposed at the conclusion of the process to serve as deterrent.
“We will not allow expired or counterfeit products to circulate in Nigeria. Those responsible will face sanctions,” she said.
Expired food and beverages pose serious health risks. Consumption can lead to food poisoning, gastrointestinal infections, and long-term complications. Counterfeit cooking oil, such as the fake Goya products discovered, has been linked to toxic chemical exposure.
Nigeria has struggled with counterfeit and expired goods entering markets, especially in rural areas where regulatory oversight is weaker. NAFDAC has intensified nationwide raids in recent years to protect consumers.
Community Reaction
Residents of Bida expressed shock at the discovery. Traders near the modern market said expired products had circulated for months. One trader said, “We suspected some of the drinks were not fresh, but we did not know they were expired. People have been buying them.”
Local health workers warned that unsuspecting consumers may have already ingested unsafe products. They called for stronger collaboration between regulators and community leaders to detect illegal warehouses early.
NAFDAC said surveillance will continue in Niger State and other regions. The agency urged members of the public to report suspicious warehouses or shops selling expired goods.
Adeyeye emphasised that consumer safety remains the agency’s priority. “We encourage Nigerians to check expiry dates before purchase. Report any suspicious products to NAFDAC offices nationwide,” she said.
The agency said it will release a detailed report after the investigations conclude.
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