By Charles Maduka
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has dismissed reports claiming that the Federal Government directed it to suspend enforcement of regulations concerning sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic drinks.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the agency described the report as inaccurate and misleading, insisting that it had not received any official instruction from the Federal Government to stop its regulatory activities.
An earlier 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, alleged that the Federal Government had ordered NAFDAC to suspend all enforcement actions linked to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.
Responding, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, stated that the agency operates strictly within its legal mandate and in accordance with duly communicated government policies.
She said the publication was false and did not represent any formal communication received by the agency from the Federal Government. According to her, at no time had NAFDAC been instructed to halt its regulatory or enforcement activities regarding sachet alcohol products.
Adeyeye reaffirmed that the agency remains committed to protecting public health, ensuring compliance with regulations, and carrying out its duties transparently in line with established laws and due process.
She added that any decision affecting national regulatory actions would be communicated through official government channels.
The NAFDAC boss urged the public, industry players, and the media to disregard the report and rely only on verified information issued through the agency’s official platforms and authorised government communication channels.
The agency also warned against spreading unverified information capable of creating unnecessary public anxiety, economic uncertainty, or confusion about government policy.
NAFDAC maintained that it remains resolute in safeguarding public health, promoting economic stability, and acting in the national interest.
The regulation of sachet alcohol and other small-volume alcoholic beverages has remained a topic of nationwide debate in recent years, especially amid concerns about underage consumption, substance abuse, and public health implications.
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