By Nelson Utip
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has admonished religious bodies who indulge in the production and sales of what is termed ‘miracle water ‘ and soap to gullible faithfuls, without passing through the requisite regulatory requirements.
NAFDAC said it is warning the public on the activities of a faith-based organization – Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries that uses deceives the faithfuls with NAFDAC name, asserting that It’s officials have uncovered the illegal production,
advertisement and sale of brands of water and soap tagged ‘Miracle’ Water and Soap by Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries in Effurun in Delta State.
In a statement released to Newsmen tilted “Illegal Production, Sale and Advertisement of Unregistered, Suspected Unwholesome Miracle Water and other Brands of the water, and miracle soap by Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries,
Kilometre 5 Effurun, Sapele Road, Delta State,” NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, stated that the religious organization connived with Globod Table Water Km 4, DSC Expressway, Otokutu, Delta State to produce and sell packaged water without requisite approval of NAFDAC.
Adeyeye said that NAFDAC office was awash with petitions from concerned citizens about Senior Prophet Jeremiah Omoto of Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries on the Miracle Water and Miracle Soap being advertised with healing and miracle
claims and sold to unsuspecting members of the public by the spiritual ministry, she also observed that the minister advertised the use of miracle water and miracle soap on social media claiming that it heals barrenness with high propensity of twins to women who use the soap.
“He openly told his congregation that the soap is NAFDAC registered. Thus, the public began to visit the office to confirm the claims. The petitioners also submitted the following products from the Spiritual Ministry to NAFDAC to verify the bogus
claims.
“Upon receipt of the petitions, NAFDAC, through the Director Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS) NAFDAC, contacted the Delta State Coordinator to ascertain the existence or records of any transaction with the Christ Mercy Land Deliverance
Ministries and the products in Delta State Office.
“The Coordinator was also directed to visit the ministry to establish the veracity of the claims in the petitions and take necessary regulatory action on the production facility in the ministry where the miracle water and other products are produced.
“The state coordinator covertly bought the Miracle Water (25cl) for 3000 naira from the ministries and took the pictures.
“On Wednesday 14 th August 2024, the State Coordinator Delta State visited the Mercy Land Ministry and met the Head of Service (HOS) – Mr. Ogunleye Fufeyin and the Chief Security Officer (CSO).
“The officials denied producing miracle and healing water or soap even with the evidence of the receipt of purchase. He claimed that only the Logo and address on the label were theirs but not the product”.
The NAFDAC boss said that the religious organization refused to honour letters of invitation issued to the officials to report on 28 th August, instead they submitted a legal document at NAFDAC Headquarters Abuja on 28 th August 2024
and were asked to come on the 3 rd September 2024 and to organise their documents before coming.
“The Agency then gave the Prophet till 29 th August to report at Investigation and Enforcement NAFDAC Office Asaba for further necessary investigation.
“Investigation and Enforcement Asaba waited for the Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries officials based on their earlier request to report for commencement of investigation, but they still refused to show up.
“We will continue with our investigation into the activities of this faith organization with regards to products within our mandates that have been reported to be manufactured and sold by them.
