On Wednesday, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) closed three milk-producing facilities in the Awada district of Onitsha due to severe violations of manufacturing standards. During the raid, enforcement agents seized production equipment and destroyed batches of milk that were being processed for sale.
Obialor Francisca Ndidiamaka, the commission’s South East Zonal Coordinator, led the operation. She highlighted that the products posed a significant health risk to consumers. According to Ndidiamaka, the factories operated in filthy conditions, often reusing plastic bottles scavenged from streets and cleaned with contaminated water. Staff reportedly handled the soya milk without protective gear or treated water, and the final goods underwent no quality analysis.
The commission had previously issued warnings and stop-production notices to the factory owners, requesting their presence at the Awka office to discuss compliance requirements. These instructions were ignored, leading the agency to invoke Section 18f of the FCCPC Act, which permits the closure of premises distributing hazardous goods. Police officers supported the operation, which resulted in the arrest of one factory owner. Officials warned that these unhygienic practices contribute to a rise in adulterated dairy products flooding the local market.
