The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to sustain strict enforcement of the nationwide ban on alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and small PET bottles below 200 millilitres.
Professor Adeyeye stated this while addressing journalists at NAFDAC’s headquarters in Isolo, Lagos, following a protest by some groups against the implementation of the ban.
She explained that the policy aligns with a 2010 World Health Assembly directive urging countries to restrict children’s access to alcohol, noting that Nigeria was among the 183 countries that endorsed the agreement.
According to the NAFDAC boss, sachet alcohol is easily accessible to children and young people in busy locations, posing serious health risks and security concerns.
She warned that early exposure to alcohol increases the likelihood of drug abuse and long-term health complications, including liver damage and cancer.
Professor Adeyeye dismissed claims by protesting unions that children do not consume sachet alcohol, insisting that evidence shows its widespread use among young people, commercial drivers, and motorcycle riders, thereby endangering public safety.
She also noted that sachet alcohol often contains a much higher concentration of alcohol than beer, with some products having up to 43 per cent alcohol content, compared to six to eight per cent in beer.
The NAFDAC Director General disclosed that discussions on the ban began years ago, with a five-year moratorium granted to stakeholders in 2018 and later extended to December 2025.
She said enforcement resumed after the expiration of the moratorium, with the backing of the National Assembly.
Professor Adeyeye emphasized that the enforcement would continue unless a law is enacted to halt it, stressing that NAFDAC remains committed to protecting public health, especially that of children and young people.