The National Agency for Food Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday shut down four unregistered bakeries in the Port Harcourt metropolis.

The NAFDAC director in the South-South zone, Chukwuma Oligbu, said the bakeries operated without registration licences and with very poor Good Hygienic Practice (GHP).

Mr Oligbu said the agency shut the facilities to stamp out the prevalence of quack and substandard bakeries in Rivers.

“Pans with dough were being kept on the floor. The makeshift buildings were with open and uncovered windows, bakery workers were not well kitted with PPEs, and lister generator sets were sited inside the production rooms, and there were no factory flow.

“The bakeries shut down include He Reigns Bakery – Okabie Street, off Bakery Road, Rumuigbo; Dvine Freedom Dread, No 3, Omasi Str., Rumuomasi Street; De Heroes Bakery, Wonda Street, Psychiatric Road and The Lord’s Abundant Bakery 5, Elder Ezebunwo Street off Obi Wali Road, Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt,” he said.

Mr Oligbu said the four bakeries visited were subsequently shut, and the owners were directed to report at the NAFDAC zonal office for questioning while investigations continue.

He explained that samples of the produced bread were taken for laboratory analysis.

Mr Oligbu warned that defaulters of NAFDAC regulations risked prosecution and possible jail terms when convicted.

He implored producers of NAFDAC-regulated products to seek guidance by visiting the agency’s office for advice and supervision in setting up their facilities or businesses.

Mr Oligbu stated that the agency would ensure that defaulters of NAFDAC-regulated products and illicit producers who did not abide by the agency’s standards in Rivers and the entire South-South Zone would be uncomfortable and brought to book.

(NAN)