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On Thursday, the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) took decisive action in Benin, closing down two chemical outlets that were found to be operating without the necessary licenses and safety measures. This move underscores the agency’s commitment to enforcing regulations that ensure public safety and the responsible sale of potentially hazardous substances.
Golden Juliros Nigeria Ltd., situated on Evbiemwen Street off Wire Road, and Onebamchi Chemicals at Ramat Park market were the two shops sealed by NAFDAC. The operation, conducted on Thursday, involved officers from the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Unit based in Asaba, alongside the Edo office staff in Benin, working together to tackle the violations.
Esther Itua, the NAFDAC Coordinator in Edo, shared that both Golden Juliros Nigeria Ltd. and Onebamchi Chemicals had been under surveillance for a prolonged period. For years, the shops had ignored NAFDAC’s advice to register as authorized chemical dealers, a refusal that eventually led to their closure in a bid to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.
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.
Read also: NAFDAC Bans Alcoholic Beverages Below 200ml In Port Harcourt
“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.
