Month: June 2024

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down two sachet water factories in Owerri for operating in unhygienic environments.

The agency further cautioned another factory during the routine inspection carried out on Friday in the Imo capital city.

The two affected factories included Elmabo Table Water and Sylchap Enterprise Table Water, while Giver Table Water was cautioned over minor issues.

In an interview with newsmen at the end of the enforcement, the Imo NAFDAC Coordinator, Mrs Mercy Ndukwe, said the factories were sealed for poor manufacturing practices.

Ndukwe said: ‘We have invited them all to visit NAFDAC office with their licences for verification.

‘Looking at the factories we visited, the agency is not happy seeing the environment they were operating on.

‘NAFDAC’s minimum requirement is four to five rooms for small scale operators to operate a water production facility.

‘At the time we registered them, these rooms were available but today, most of the
rooms have been converted to other uses, like living rooms and other businesses.’

The NAFDAC chief expressed concern that cholera and other diseases could breakout from such unhygienic environments, if not given proper attention.

Ndukwe recalled that the agency, about three weeks ago, directed the water association in the state to close all operations for two days for proper cleaning and sanitisation of factories to avert cholera outbreak.

‘In spite of the directive, we are very sad to see the environment where they operate in to be unhygienic,’ she said.

She cautioned other producers ‘to sit up and conduct self sanitisation of their premises.’

‘They should ensure that those they leave their businesses to run adhere strictly to the directives of NAFDAC.

‘Our aim is not to close down factories or push them out of business but to ensure that Nigerians consume wholesale and hygienic food and water,’

Ndukwe further said.

She expressed the willingness of the agency to organise free trainings for the operat
ors of table water factories in the state on the best practices.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the enforcement was carried out by NAFDAC, in collaboration with the Imo House of Assembly Committee on Health and Environment as well as the state chapter of the Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP).

The Vice Chairman of ATWAP, Mrs Joy Uwakwe, expressed the support of her association to the enforcement by the agency.

‘The association is in support of ensuring that water sold to consumers are clean and treated for consumption for Imo residents.

‘The most unfortunate thing that happened today is that the sealed factories are not members of ATWAP,’ Uwakwe said .

Also, the chairman, Imo House of Assembly Taskforce on Health and Environment, Chief Odyssey Obioha, expressed concern that the test conducted for quality at the facilities showed that the water was not safe for drinking.

Obioha said that a similar test was conducted on different sachets of water at the Imo State House of Assembly
where it was discovered that most of them were unsafe for consumption.

‘The discovery necessitated the inspection of water production facilities in the state, in collaboration with NAFDAC and ATWAP.

‘The outbreak of cholera in the country has become an issue and the State Government is determined to ensure that Imo is free from cholera,’ Obioha said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, has supported stakeholders’ calls for the establishment of Restorative Justice Centres in the country.

Jedy-Agba said this at the Validation Session of Restorative Justice Documents; the Policy, Bill, Practice Direction, and Training Manual on Thursday in Abuja.

The programme was organised by the Ministry of Justice and sponsored by UNODC.

‘These centres will run as forms of alternative dispute resolution and will be deployed as tools for decongesting many of the less serious cases in the docket of the courts.

‘This will invariably decrease the overcrowded correctional centres.

‘It is proposed that the centres will receive referrals from the police, courts and prosecutors to settle some criminal matters amicably.”

She called for support for government policies towards reforming the criminal justice system, through restorative justice mechanisms.

‘The criminal justice system faces tremendous challenges, ranging from recidivism, prolonged
duration for trials, overcrowded custodial centres and the failure of punishment for offences to meet with standards of justice for the victims and survivors of crime.

‘These challenges are addressed through restorative justice mechanisms, with the overall objective of improving the criminal justice system.’

She explained that restorative justice is an evolving approach to justice that seeks to repair harm by providing an opportunity for those harmed and the perpetrators to communicate and address needs in the aftermath of a crime.

‘It gives offenders an opportunity to make amends and to try to correct some of their wrongs and hurt which they may have caused to their victims.

‘It is also an innovative approach that has been known to reduce re-offending rates by making the offenders face the consequences of their action.”

She noted that while the traditional criminal justice process solely focuses on punishment for the offender, restorative justice focuses on victims and survivors who have been harmed by
the conduct of the offender.

‘Victims are empowered to participate more fully than in the traditional system, and the community also has an important role to play by establishing standards of conduct and helping to provide support to the parties involved.

‘I hope that the validation and eventual passage of these legal and regulatory frameworks will serve as model to be adopted by the states”.

Also speaking, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun,

added that as a way of building a more inclusive justice system, police will champion adoption of the restorative system.

‘As we review and validate these documents, I urge us to prioritise a justice system that encourages re-integration, the police is committed to work with all stakeholders.

‘The concept holds immense potential for nation legal frame work. It encompasses policy, practice direction and training manual of restorative justice.

Mrs Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, Director of Administration of Criminal Justice and Reform Department, noted that
the ultimate goal is to have a justice system that not only punishes offenders but also heals communities and restores relationships.

‘The purpose is not merely a formality but a testament to our dedication to reforming our justice system to better serve our people.

‘Restorative Justice represents a paradigm shift from the traditional punitive approach to one that emphasizes healing, rehabilitation, and reconciliation.

‘It is relevant now more than ever as we face the challenges of recidivism, overcrowded correctional facilities, and lengthy prosecution processes”.

Ms Muchaneta Mundopa, a representative of UNODC, said that the documents emphasise Nigeria’s dedication to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 16, which focuses on peace, justice, and strong institutions.

‘UNODC believes that restorative justice can play a crucial role in achieving this goal by addressing the underlying causes of conflict and promoting a culture of dialogue and understanding within communities.

‘We recognise
that adopting these documents is the first step in establishing a criminal justice system that provides an opportunity to all affected parties.

‘However, the true impact will be experienced through the implementation phase of restorative justice,” she added.

She said that in line with the newly revised 2030 Strategic Vision for Nigeria, UNODC is proud and remains steadfastly committed to supporting Nigeria in this transformative journey.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria