The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced a nationwide enforcement operation to remove alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and polyethene terephthalate (PET) bottles with a capacity of less than 200 millilitres from circulation.
The exercise, conducted across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, aims to enforce the Federal Government’s ban on the production, importation, distribution, and sale of prohibited alcoholic products.
NAFDAC said the operation follows the closure of manufacturing facilities found to have violated the ban, with enforcement teams deployed to markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars and other distribution channels to identify and seize the affected products.
The agency warned manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, hawkers, and transporters still holding the banned products to surrender their remaining stock.
It said continued production, possession, distribution or sale of the prohibited alcoholic drinks could attract regulatory sanctions, seizure of products and possible criminal prosecution.
NAFDAC explained that the crackdown is part of efforts to protect public health, reduce harmful alcohol consumption and limit access to high-alcohol-content drinks among children and young people.
The regulator also urged members of the public to cooperate with the enforcement exercise by avoiding the purchase of the banned products and reporting individuals or businesses involved in their production, stocking or sale to the nearest NAFDAC office.
The latest operation follows the Federal Government’s decision to fully enforce the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET or glass bottles below 200ml from January 1, 2026, after a phase-out period granted to manufacturers and distributors.
