The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians to the import ban placed on Bulmex Parboiled Rice by the Republic of Niger over concerns that the product contains metallic contaminants that could pose serious health risks.
The agency said the alert was issued to strengthen surveillance and prevent the possible circulation of the affected rice in Nigeria through cross-border trade, even though its availability in the Nigerian market has not yet been confirmed.
In Public Alert No. 034/2026 released by NAFDAC on Thursday, the agency disclosed that the Republic of Niger’s Ministry of Trade and Industry imposed the ban following an investigation by the Agadez Regional Directorate of Commerce and Industry, which confirmed the presence of iron debris in Bulmex Parboiled Rice imported from India, making it unsafe for human consumption.
Consequently, the importation and distribution of the product have been prohibited in the neighbouring country.
According to the alert, Bulmex is marketed as a brand of Indian parboiled rice and Pakistani long-grain rice and is reportedly supplied by Karam Food Grains Private Limited, Paragon Commodities Limited, and Imoro Brunya/Sulemana Imoro Distribution Company.
NAFDAC noted that the product is claimed to be imported and marketed in Africa, particularly in Nigeria and the Republic of Niger. However, the agency stressed that it has not confirmed the presence of the affected rice in the Nigerian market.
The agency said the public alert was issued as a precautionary measure to enhance market surveillance and prevent the possible entry of the contaminated product into the country
through cross-border trade.
NAFDAC advised consumers to remain vigilant and report any suspected sale of substandard, falsified or counterfeit regulated products to the nearest NAFDAC office.