By Timothy Enitan-Matthews
ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismissed claims on the suspension of enforcement actions on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the agency described the report as false and misleading, insisting that no official instruction had been received from the Federal Government directing it to halt its regulatory activities.
The rebuttal followed a media report quoting a statement released in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Terrence Kuanum, which claimed that the Federal Government had ordered NAFDAC to suspend all enforcement actions relating to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and small-volume alcoholic products.
Reacting, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency operates strictly within its statutory mandate and in accordance with duly communicated 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,” Adeyeye said.
She reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to protecting public health, ensuring regulatory compliance, and discharging its responsibilities transparently and in line with existing laws and due process.
“Any decision affecting national regulatory actions will be communicated through official government channels,” she added.
Adeyeye urged the public, industry stakeholders, and the media to ignore the report and rely solely on verified information released through NAFDAC’s official platforms and authorised government communication channels.
The agency also warned against the spread of unverified information capable of creating unnecessary public anxiety, economic uncertainty, or confusion over government policy.
NAFDAC maintained that it remains steadfast in its commitment to public health, economic stability, and the national interest.
Regulation of sachet alcohol and other small-volume alcoholic beverages has remained a subject of national debate in recent years, amid concerns over underage access, substance abuse, and broader public health risks.
(Ripples Nigeria)
