The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reinforced the ban on importing, selling, and distributing frozen chicken, turkey, and catfish.
The agency announced this on Tuesday via its X page, stating that the move is part of efforts to support local farmers and producers.
This policy follows warnings from the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) in 2023, which raised concerns about the industry’s survival after foreign exchange restrictions for frozen chicken imports were lifted.
PAN had cautioned that the N12 trillion poultry sector, employing over 20 million people, was at risk of collapse.
During a sensitization event at Kado Fish Market in Abuja, NAFDAC’s FCT Director, Mr. Kenneth Azikiwe, urged traders to store frozen products properly and focus on selling locally produced, NAFDAC-certified goods.
The Chairman of the Abuja Fish and Frozen Food Sellers Association, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed, assured compliance with the regulations while advocating fair enforcement.
NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to promoting food safety and bolstering the nation’s agricultural sector through the enforcement of this ban.