The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, yesterday embarked on nationwide enforcement against all alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate, PET, bottles below 200 millilitres, marking the full implementation of the federal government’s ban on the products.
The sweeping crackdown, which is taking place simultaneously across the six geopolitical zones, followed the closure of manufacturing facilities found to be producing the banned alcoholic drinks in violation of regulatory directives, reports Vanguard.
Consequently, NAFDAC enforcement teams have fanned out to markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars, supermarkets and other distribution channels to identify, seize and destroy the prohibited products, warning that anyone found producing, importing, distributing, transporting, stocking or selling them risked prosecution.
The Director-General, Prof Christianah Adeyeye, said in a statement yesterday that the agency had directed manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, hawkers and transporters to immediately surrender any remaining stock.
She stressed that continued possession or sale of the products would attract seizure, regulatory sanctions and possible prosecution.
The nationwide operation represents one of the most aggressive regulatory actions against alcoholic beverages in recent years and signals the government’s determination to tackle underage drinking, substance abuse and easy accessibility to cheap alcohol among young Nigerians. NAFDAC said the exercise was not a one-off operation but part of a sustained nationwide enforcement and public enlightenment campaign to eliminate harmful alcohol products from the Nigerian market.
According to the agency, the action is designed to protect children, adolescents and other vulnerable groups from the dangers associated with the widespread availability of small-pack alcoholic beverages, while encouraging responsible alcohol consumption among adults.
The agency clarified that the enforcement was not targeted at manufacturers who complied with approved packaging thresholds but focused on removing products considered to pose significant public health risks. It described the banned sachet and sub-200ml PET bottled alcoholic drinks as illegal products that should no longer be found in circulation.
NAFDAC also appealed to Nigerians to support the enforcement by reporting individuals or businesses involved in producing, stocking or selling the prohibited alcoholic beverages.
The agency urged members of the public to avoid purchasing or consuming the banned products and to report suspicious activities to the nearest NAFDAC office.
