The Bida Local Government Council in Niger State has shut down several ice cream production facilities after inspectors reportedly found flies in production mixtures and discovered that the operators lacked required licences and registration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The PUNCH reported on Thursday, October 22, 2026, that the council took the action following an inspection by its environmental health officials and complaints from residents about an ice cream production facility around the Federal Polytechnic Bida area.
In the report by Okiki Adeduyite, The PUNCH quoted a statement posted on Facebook by the council’s Chief Press Secretary, Aliyu B. Umar, who said the inspection team found flies in the mixtures used to produce ice cream.
Umar said the products also lacked labels identifying their contents and sources, making traceability difficult.
According to the statement quoted by The PUNCH, laboratory analysis of substances used in production reportedly indicated a lack of nutritional value and the presence of substances considered dangerous to human health. The report did not identify the substances or provide the laboratory results.
The council said production was stopped after managers of the affected facilities confirmed that they did not have the required licences and NAFDAC registration numbers. Officials also evacuated production equipment and related materials from the premises.
The enforcement action followed complaints about a facility near Federal Polytechnic Bida, where vendors reportedly gathered every morning to purchase ice cream for distribution and sale across the town.
The council’s statement warned that the distribution arrangement could expose residents to health risks.
Speaking during the operation, Ahmed Danladi, the Supervisory Councillor for Health and Social Welfare, said the council was committed to ensuring that food and drinks sold to residents were produced under hygienic conditions and in compliance with relevant regulations.
According to The PUNCH, Danladi said council chairman UM Manko would take appropriate action against individuals and businesses involved in illegal food and drink production or violations of public health and environmental regulations.
He also urged residents to report suspicious food production and distribution activities to the relevant authorities.
The reported shutdown underscores the importance of hygiene, proper labelling and regulatory compliance in food production. However, the specific substances identified in the laboratory analysis and the identities of the affected businesses were not disclosed in the report.
