Suleja: NAFDAC on Tuesday sealed a Suleja warehouse owned by Alhaji Ahmed for illegally selling large quantities of monosodium glutamate (MSG), a food additive banned from bulk importation due to health risks. Mr Kenneth Azikiwe, Director in charge of the FCT Directorate of NAFDAC, told journalists during the enforcement exercise that the sale of MSG in bulk had already been banned by the agency due to health concerns.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the enforcement was carried out under the directive of NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard public health. During the operation, the agency also confiscated various unregistered, adulterated, and counterfeit products from the Ibrahim Babangida International Market in Suleja.
Some of the seized items included banned foreign spaghetti brands like Doga and Roca, and counterfeit toothpaste such as Bamboo Charcoal, Crogate, and Cloguide, all mimicking known brands like Colgate. Azikiwe noted that certain products were placed on hold for further investigation.
He explained that MSG, commonly known as ‘White Maggi’ or used in Ajinomoto, was a sodium-based additive banned from bulk importation into Nigeria. While small, regulated quantities are allowed for reprocessing, bulk sales to unregulated vendors pose significant health risks. Azikiwe highlighted that bulk sales of MSG to illiterate traders lead to repackaging in plastic bags, often mixed with salt, and sold in smaller quantities, which is also used to mask the spoilage of decaying food products.
Azikiwe warned that prolonged consumption of such repackaged additives could damage vital organs and contribute to the rise of chronic illnesses in the country. He urged the public to avoid buying unregistered or repackaged food additives and to always check for NAFDAC registration numbers for their safety.
Mr Embugushiki-Musa Godiya, an Intelligence and Enforcement Officer with NAFDAC, revealed that the total market value of the confiscated products was estimated at N47.5 million.