A Chinese based company, Shijiazhuang Qixiang
Chemical Co. Ltd, has been exposed over alleged exportation of sand-like toxic
waste in place of caustic soda to unsuspecting Nigerian importer, Christo
Ventures Ltd, in Lagos. According to reports, the Nigerian importer had placed
an order for 10 by 20ft containers of caustic soda (NaOH) from the Chinese
company, but to the Christo’s amazement, the consignment was in contrast with
what it expected.
Christo Ventures Ltd is said to
have been a chemical importer recognised by NAFDAC and has a current permit to
import, N0. 1300280 of 2013 with the item, caustic soda listed as N0.15 on the
permit. However, luck ran out of the Chinese firm when the officials of the
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, upon
examination during its routine joint physical checks at the Sifax Bonded
Terminal on June 7 2013, observed that the physical characteristic of the
consignment was in contrast with the expected caustic soda that usually appears
in pearls.
The suspicion led the agency to draw samples
from three of the 10 containers for further laboratory analysis.
Fortunately, the result of the analysis showed
that the substance shipped to Christo Ventures by the Chinese company was not
caustic soda, contrary to both parties’ agreement. Reacting to the development,
NAFDAC Director-General, Dr. Paul Orhii, who was represented by a director in
the agency, Mrs. Hauwa Keri, told newsmen that the sand-like substance, which
could be re-extracted to get hard drugs, could also constitute serious hazards
to the environment as well as security risk.
On his part, Managing Director of Christo
Ventures, Christian Udeh, who alleged that he was duped by the Chinese
company said the had invested over N30 million in the business.
Source: Vanguard
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