NAFDAC denies Federal Government order to suspend ban on sachet alcohol enforcement 

NIGERIA – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismissed reports claiming that the Federal Government directed the suspension of enforcement actions against sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products, describing the claims as false and misleading. 

In a statement signed by its Director General, Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency said it had not received any official communication authorising a halt to its regulatory activities. 

NAFDAC stressed that it operates strictly within its statutory mandate and only acts on formally communicated government policies. 

“At no time has the Agency received any formal directive ordering the suspension of its regulatory or enforcement activities in respect of sachet alcohol products,” the statement said. 

The clarification followed earlier media reports suggesting that the Federal Government had instructed NAFDAC to suspend the ban and stop the sealing of warehouses linked to sachet alcohol products.  

The reports cited a statement attributed to the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Terrence Kuanum. 

NAFDAC emphasised that any decision affecting national regulatory actions would be communicated through recognised official government channels.  

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to public health protection, regulatory compliance and transparency in carrying out its responsibilities in line with existing laws and due process. 

The regulator urged members of the public, industry stakeholders and the media to disregard the reports and rely only on verified information released through its official platforms and authorised government sources.  

It also warned against the spread of unverified information, noting that such actions could create unnecessary public anxiety, economic uncertainty and misinterpretation of government policy. 

Reiterating its position, NAFDAC said it remains resolute in its mandate to safeguard public health while supporting economic stability and the broader national interest. 

The statement comes against the backdrop of recent findings by the agency highlighting concerns over underage access to alcohol. A NAFDAC survey revealed that more than half of Nigerian minors and underaged children purchase alcohol for themselves, often in sachets and small bottles that are easy to conceal. 

According to the findings, 54.3% of minors and underaged respondents obtained alcohol directly on their own, with nearly half buying from retailers selling sachet-packaged alcoholic drinks and small plastic bottles.  

The agency has cited these trends as part of the public health rationale underpinning its enforcement actions on sachet alcohol products. 

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