Just In : Imo CPC Raid Palm Kernel Adulterators in Eke Iho Market
The enforcement team of Consumer Protection Council (CPC) Imo State, on Thursday, 22nd September 2022, busted Eke Iho market in Ikeduru Local government area of Imo State, to confiscate adulterated palm kernel in the market.
The agency under the leadership of Hon. Mrs Obioma Okafor, on receiving intelligent information about the ugly activities of palm kernel traders in Eke Iho market, sent a team led by Mr Austin Igwechi and Mr Emma Diala to the market in the company of four armed police men and media personels.
Confronting the traders on the adulterated palm kernel products seen on ground, the traders mobilized more than three hundred boys, majority of whom are violent touts to resist the team from seizing the fake products.
Speaking on behalf of the traders, the president of palm kernel traders association in Eke Iho market, Mr Obi Emmanuel denied the fact that they deliberately mixed palm kernel products with chaff or shells, claiming it’s the same way they buy the products from the rural women. Meanwhile, the cpc team collected sample of the adulterated palm kernel products and invited the president of palm kernel traders association, Mr Emmanuel Obi to come with his executives to CPC for more explanation on the issue.
It is important to note that palm kernel is one of the major raw material used in the production of edible oil popularly known as groundnut oil. It is unfortunate that dealers largely mixed palm kernel with its shell fractions to increase the weight to make more gains.
Speaking to the traders, the leader of the team, Mr Austin Igwechi warned traders against engaging in such unwholesome practices, henceforth anyone caught would be sanctioned.
Addressing the press after the operation, the SA logistics to the DG CPC, Ozo Don Onwukaike warned that those deliberately adding shells to palm kernel should desist from it, describing such as illegal, hazardous and poisonous. He further noted that the council will continue to monitor the market in order to protect consumers from adulterated products as well as from shylock traders. According to him, Mrs Okafor’s led Imo CPC is ever committed to fulfill its statutory duties of protecting consumers against adulteration and fake products.
