The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised concerns over the growing consumption of alcohol in Nigeria, linking indiscriminate use of the substance to social problems, including banditry.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday.
Adeyeye said excessive alcohol consumption poses serious risks to vital organs, particularly the brain, kidneys and liver.
She also defended NAFDAC’s decision to ban the sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets and PET bottles of less than 200 millilitres, saying the measure was necessary because the availability of such products had become difficult to control.
According to her, although the sale of alcohol in small-sized containers was approved decades ago, its widespread availability had become a concern, particularly because of its accessibility to young people.
She acknowledged that the restriction had faced opposition in some quarters but said the agency was more concerned about protecting children and safeguarding their future.
The NAFDAC chief said the agency would continue to pursue measures aimed at reducing harmful alcohol consumption and protecting public health.
