By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has refuted a media report alleging that the Federal Government directed it to suspend enforcement of the regulation of sachet alcohol and PET bottle alcoholic products.
In a statement on Wednesday, February 11, NAFDAC described the publication as false and misleading, stressing that it had not received any official communication from the Federal Government ordering a halt to its regulatory activities.
Earlier on Wednesday, a news report, which quoted a statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Terrence Kuanum, claimed that the Federal Government had directed NAFDAC to suspend all enforcement actions relating to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.
However, Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency operated strictly within its statutory mandate and in line with duly communicated Federal Government policies.
“The said publication is false, misleading, and does not reflect any official communication received by the Agency from the Federal Government.
“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,” she said.
Adeyeye reiterated that NAFDAC remains committed to safeguarding public health, ensuring regulatory compliance, and carrying out its responsibilities transparently and in accordance with established laws and due process.
She added, “Any decision affecting national regulatory actions will be communicated through official government channels.”
Adeyeye urged members of the public, industry stakeholders, and the media to disregard the report and rely only on verified information issued through the agency’s official platforms and authorised government communication channels.
The agency also cautioned against the dissemination of unverified information capable of causing unnecessary public anxiety, economic uncertainty, or misinterpretation of government policy.
NAFDAC stated that it remains steadfast in its commitment to public health, economic stability, and the national interest.
The regulation of sachet alcohol and small-volume alcoholic beverages has been a subject of national debate in recent years, with NAFDAC raising concerns over underage access, substance abuse, and public health risks.
The issue led to protests by alcohol manufacturers at NAFDAC’s Isolo office, Lagos, urging the agency to reconsider its position.
The protesters further argued that the ban could lead to job losses and economic hardship.
In reaction to the protests, NAFDAC insisted that the ban on the sale of alcohol in sachets and small bottles stands until the law changes, adding that the move was not a punishment but a necessary public health intervention.
