Supermarket Re-Opens in Abuja after Closure

 One of the largest markets in Abuja, Fortmark Stores has been issued a license for operation shortly after it was shut down by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC). The Karu area popular market was recently sealed by the nation’s food and drug regulator following its sale and production of bread without the regulator’s approval.

The operator was quick to realise its fault and corrected it. Officially, Fortmart bread now carries NAFDAC registration number FCT/5088/ABC having met the conditions of the regulatory body. The licence reads in part “this is to inform you that the following bread product(s) of your bakery has/have been listed by NAFDAC and assigned the stated NAFDAC listing number(s) expected to be renewed in the next two years. “ The Managing Director of the supermarket, Mr. Clifford Williams, explained that the supermarket was slammed with a two-count charge which resulted in the payment of N530, 000 fines to government.

He advised that it was more profitable to be on the side of the law, while stressing that the stipulated fine wasn’t burdensome. “We were ignorant of the fact that we needed to get a licence before we can produce bread, however, when we got to know, we entrusted a consultant to get it done who later disappointed us. We were later fined for two count offence. One was N200, 000 and the other was N330, 000 making a total of N530, 000. “All the same, we are grateful to NAFDAC for its intervention as its action has helped upgraded our set up and enlightened us. We are back on track and following specifications. “Bread is like our trade secret in Fortmart. When the product was suspended, we had to put in extra effort to retain our customers; now that it is back, we are rising again and we are excited.

“Being on the side of the law is always the best. The process is not as tedious as thought while the registration fee was meant to be just N31, 000 but we paid additional N500, 000 because of the fine”, he said.

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