The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reiterated its commitment to enforcing the ban on sachet and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic drinks.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the statement on Friday while speaking to journalists after manufacturers and union members protested at the agency’s Lagos office.
The protesters carried placards urging the Federal Government to halt NAFDAC’s ongoing enforcement of the ban on small-sized alcoholic beverages.
Adeyeye, however, said the enforcement is backed by law, stressing that only a change in legislation could compel the agency to stop its actions.
“We told them clearly that we will continue the enforcement because it is backed by the law. The legislature makes the laws and directs us to regulate the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, and use of alcohol.
“So, if the law changes and says we should not regulate alcohol, we will stop. Only the law can stop us from carrying out our duties,” she said.
The Director-General said the ban aligns with global health standards and Sustainable Development Goal 3.5, which seeks to reduce harmful alcohol consumption.
She noted that manufacturers were given a five-year moratorium, with an additional one-year extension, to adjust their production and business plans.
Adeyeye warned that easy access to alcohol by children could lead to substance abuse and long-term health problems, while excessive consumption by adults could cause liver damage and other serious health risks.
She urged parents to monitor their children and called on community and religious leaders to support NAFDAC’s public health campaign.
“No Nigerian has the right to make money at the expense of another person’s health,” she said.
