The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has begun enforcing its ban on alcoholic beverages sold in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml.
The agency commenced the enforcement by targeting distributors at Rumuokoro Market in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
A statement released by the South-South Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Pharm. Chukwuma Oligbu, and signed by the Public Relations Officer for the zone, Cyril Monye on Friday, confirmed the discovery of large quantities of the prohibited products in two shops during the enforcement exercise.
The banned items, comprising hundreds of cartons of alcoholic drinks in sachets and PET bottles, were put on hold as the traders became confrontational, obstructing efforts to remove the products.
Oligbu stated that manufacturers were given a five-year notice in 2018 to discontinue the production of these beverages, with the grace period expiring in December 2023.
He noted that the ban was officially announced by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, in February 2024.
“The ban of these alcoholic beverages was a decision of multilateral committee set up by the federal government that involves all stakeholders in the business and NAFDAC will not standby while the lives of young Nigerians are been endangered by spirits,” Oligbu emphasized.
The statement further warned manufacturers to cease production of the banned items, stressing that NAFDAC will intensify its crackdown on offending companies and continue seizing such products from supermarkets, shops, and hawkers nationwide.
