The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its nationwide enforcement of the Federal Government’s ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml, warning that violators will face strict legal consequences.
The renewed enforcement follows a nationwide mop-up operation that uncovered widespread non-compliance by some manufacturers and distributors. Speaking during a press briefing, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency remains committed to implementing the ban as part of broader efforts to protect public health, particularly among children, adolescents, and other vulnerable groups who are at greater risk of alcohol abuse.
The latest action also follows NAFDAC’s recent warning over banned alcoholic energy drinks, underscoring the agency’s broader campaign to curb the circulation of unsafe and prohibited alcoholic products.
According to the agency, inspectors discovered that some manufacturers were still producing banned alcoholic products, with packaging materials bearing production dates as recent as July 2026. NAFDAC also reported attempts by some operators to evade regulatory oversight by relocating production equipment to unregistered facilities and removing company signboards to conceal illegal activities.
Prof. Adeyeye described these actions as deliberate violations of government directives and emphasized that all offending facilities would be shut down and sanctioned in accordance with the law. She noted that the current enforcement drive comes after years of stakeholder engagement, multiple extensions, and moratoriums granted to manufacturers to allow them time to comply with the regulation.
The Director-General also condemned attacks on NAFDAC enforcement officers during the operation, revealing that one officer was nearly stabbed while another was physically assaulted in the course of carrying out official duties. She stressed that violence and intimidation would not deter the agency from fulfilling its mandate and assured Nigerians that those responsible would be investigated and prosecuted.
NAFDAC reiterated that the ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in PET bottles below 200ml remains fully in force and is not open to further negotiation. The agency urged manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers to comply with the regulation and report any continued production or sale of the prohibited products.
As enforcement continues across the country, NAFDAC says it will sustain its operations until all banned alcoholic beverages are removed from circulation, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding public health and promoting responsible alcohol control in Nigeria.
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