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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed a warehouse in Suleja, Niger State, operated by Alhaji Ahmed, for the illegal sale of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in large quantities.
The enforcement operation took place on Tuesday, targeting the banned bulk distribution of the food additive, which is restricted due to its associated health risks.
Mr. Kenneth Azikiwe, Director of the FCT Directorate of NAFDAC, briefed journalists during the exercise, stating that the sale of MSG in bulk form had been outlawed by the agency in response to public health concerns.
The operation was carried out on the directive of NAFDAC Director-General Professor Mojisola Adeyeye as part of the agency’s continued efforts to ensure food safety across Nigeria.
Alongside the warehouse closure, NAFDAC agents confiscated several 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.”
According to Azikiwe, some of the items have been placed on hold pending further investigation.
He explained that MSG, also referred to as “White Maggi” and found in products like Ajinomoto, is a sodium-based food enhancer banned from bulk importation into Nigeria. Though small quantities are allowed for reprocessing under regulation, their sale in bulk to unregulated vendors poses serious health threats.
“What we are seeing is bulk sales of MSG to illiterate traders who repackage it in plastic bags, often adding salt, and sell it in smaller quantities. It is also used to mask the spoilage of decaying food products,” Azikiwe said.
He warned that the continued consumption of such repackaged additives could lead to damage to vital organs and contribute to the increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses in the country.
He advised Nigerians to avoid purchasing unregistered or repackaged food additives and to always verify products using NAFDAC registration numbers.
Mr. Embugushiki-Musa Godiya, an intelligence and enforcement officer with the agency, disclosed that the total market value of the seized goods was estimated at ₦47.5 million.
