The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a warehouse in the Apata community of Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, where expired drinks were allegedly cleaned with chemicals and re-labeled with new expiry dates for sale.
During the operation, two suspects, Emma Nwobi and Yusuf Hassan, were arrested for allegedly altering the expiry dates of several brands of wines and alcoholic drinks to deceive unsuspecting consumers.
According to NAFDAC, the discovery was made during a special raid carried out as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure product safety and quality, especially ahead of the festive season.
Speaking to journalists after leading the operation, the agency’s North Central Zonal Director, Kenneth Azikiwe, described the discovery as “deeply troubling and dangerous to public health.”
“We’re here today to address a concerning issue where some unscrupulous individuals are altering the dates on expired products to deceive consumers,” Azikiwe said. “They’re sold in small quantities to avoid suspicion. However, a consumer recently reported an issue, and our investigation led us to this facility.”
He explained that the expired drinks were cleaned with chemicals to erase the original expiry and manufacturing dates before being re-labeled with new ones. “We have two suspects in custody — Yusuf, who applied the altered dates, and the facility owner, who provided the labels. We’ve encountered similar cases before,” he added.
Azikiwe said NAFDAC routinely monitors distributors, supermarkets, and other outlets to ensure that only safe and genuine products reach consumers. He added that the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, had directed the agency to intensify market surveillance during the festive season.
“During this period, we’re working to ensure all products are safe and of good quality,” he emphasized, urging consumers to always check expiry and manufacturing dates directly on the label, not on stickers.
The Plateau State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Dr. Obida Musa, also condemned the illegal practice, describing it as “reckless and highly dangerous.” He said, “It is truly unfortunate to witness such behaviour. It’s appalling and should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.”
Dr. Musa called on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious products or vendors to NAFDAC for prompt investigation. “Consumers must be careful when buying regulated products,” he warned.
One of the suspects, Yusuf Hassan, pleaded for leniency, claiming ignorance of the altered expiry dates. “I didn’t know the expiry date had been changed. The original date was 2020, but it was altered to 2027. I didn’t realize it was expired,” he said.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health and announced that the raid in Jos is part of a nationwide operation aimed at removing unregistered, expired, falsified, or banned products from circulation.
