From Desmond Mgboh’, Kano
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced investigation into the alleged presence of sub- standard wheats at the Dawanau International Grain Market in Kano State
Kano State Cordinator of NAFDAC’, Kashim Ibrahim said on Wednesday that the agency would take the samples of the suspected products to the laborattory to test their quality.
“We have come, we have seen and sampled the products. We shall send to the laboratory and wait for results and write our report. If the products are fine, they would be allowed in the market, if the result is otherwise we shall go ahead and carry out destruction,” Ibrahim, said.
The investigation was inaugurated after two warehouses with about 2,000 bags of wheat suspected to be sub – standard were sealed by the Dawanau Market Development Authority.
The crackdown on the perpetrators began after over 50 containers of products from the market, believed to have been adulterated, were rejected by some international customers.
President, Dawanau International Market Development Association, Muntaka Isa ,the Chairman Board of Trustees of the market, Abdullahi Maidoya, Kano State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Kasim Ibrahim, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Federal Produce Inspection Services, Kano, Fatima Yakubu Usman, representatives from the police and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) were all present during the inspection of the market on Wednesday.
The President, of the Market Association, Muntaka Isa said the association had sought the assistance of the relevant government agencies such as federal ministries of Trades and Investment, Police Affairs, Health and Justice to work with the association’s Quality Control Committee at the market for necessary action.
“Our hearts are pure; whenever we discover any substandard or harmful product in the market, we clear it off from the market.
“Apart from that, we also traced the sources of substandard products found in order to stop subsequent smuggling of the products into the market.
“We are going to take action, by sanctioning the perpetrators to serve as deterrent to others. And if anyone is given substandard items without his consent, they have the right to file a complaint before the commission and as well trace the source of the products to demand for refund of their money,” Isa said.
The market’s BoT head, Abdullahi Maidoya vowed: “We shall not fold our arms and watch few selfish and unpatriotic individuals tarnish the good image and reputation of our market built over the years.”
He added that the Association intended to embark on intensive enlightenment and mobilisation campaign of traders in the market on the dangers of engaging in such evil crimes.
Maidoya urged well meaning marketers and traders of grains and other foodstuffs to expose or report anybody found involved in the unwholesome act of bringing substandard food items to the market to harm consumers.
