In a decisive move to sanitize the state’s marketplace, the Cross River State Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) conducted a large-scale destruction of expired and substandard consumables on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
The exercise, which took place at the CPA office in Calabar, was a key highlight of World Consumer Rights Day 2026, held under the theme: “Safe Products, Confident Consumers.”
The Agency’s enforcement team intercepted and destroyed a wide array of hazardous food and other items, ranging from beverages such as canned foods, wines and soft drinks, medical supplies, female sanitary pads, cosmetic and various beauty products found to be expired or adulterated.
While the items were set ablaze in public glare, the Agency clarified that confiscated medical drugs would be handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for specialized professional disposal to avoid environmental hazards.
Speaking at the site of the destruction, the Director-General of the CPA, Dr. Charles Ushie, said the exercise was a routine but essential part of safeguarding public health.
“With the rising cases of organ failure in society, you cannot absolve these illicit, substandard and fake products as some of the causes,” he warned. “We advise people to always make it a point of duty to inspect everything they consume.”
Emphasizing that “protecting consumer rights is essential for building trust,” Dr. Ushie reminded the public of their right to safety and information. He called on the public to act as the Agency’s “eyes and ears” by reporting suspicious goods.
“As you can see, we are burning everything from fake beverages, wines, to female sanitary products and other consumables,” Ushie stated. He credited the success of the crackdown to the support of Governor Bassey Otu and his wife, noting that inter-agency collaboration remains the state’s strongest weapon against counterfeiters.
Dr. Ushie further revealed that the Agency is currently in talks with the Cross River State House of Assembly to enact stiffer penalties for offenders to serve as a stronger deterrent.
The exercise received strong backing from trade unions and market associations.
Eld. Samuel Etim, Zonal Chairman of NAPPMED, echoed the Director-General’s stance, noting that without government intervention, the influx of fake drugs and substandard consumables would have reached disastrous levels. He commended the administration for establishing robust “checkmate systems” like the Consumer Protection Agency.
“As a union, we prioritize self-monitoring to support the cause,” Etim stated. “In many cases, enforcement teams conduct thorough searches and leave satisfied because a shop is compliant. Protecting the public is a collective responsibility shared by the government, shop owners and consumers alike.”
NAPPMED Calabar South Chairman, Mr. Udeme Jonathan, described fake drugs as a “menace to human life.” Leading by example, Jonathan said he subjects his own shop to regular task force inspections, though he believes enforcement alone isn’t enough.
He called on the government to bridge the “awareness gap” through specialized workshops, arguing that a well-informed public is the best defense for the state’s consumer ecosystem.
Barr. Paul Idiga, Director of Legal Services for the CPA, described the annual celebration as a time for a “post-mortem” of the Agency’s operations.
“The government of Senator Bassey Otu has done well in terms of monitoring and support, allowing us to do our jobs effectively,” Barr. Idiga said. “Our work isn’t limited to Calabar; we have taken our enforcement and advocacy to Ikom, Ogoja, and other parts of the state to ensure more citizens are protected”, he concluded.
Commending the crackdown, market stakeholders emphasized that regulation is vital to public safety. They urged for closer collaboration between the Consumer Protection Agency and federal bodies like NAFDAC and the NDLEA. The consensus among those present was that only a combination of rigorous inspections and “strict penalties for offenders” will effectively sanitize the market and protect unsuspecting buyers.
The CPA urges the public to remain vigilant. If you encounter expired or suspicious goods, you can report them at the CPA office located along: Okoi Arikpo House, opposite GT Bank, Highway-Calabar.
By: Eugene Upah, ispon.
