The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a nationwide enforcement operation to remove all banned alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml from circulation across Nigeria.
The exercise is aimed at strengthening compliance with the Federal Government’s prohibition on the production, importation and sale of the products.
The nationwide mop-up operation is taking place simultaneously across the country’s six geopolitical zones following the closure of manufacturing facilities found to be violating the ban.
According to the agency, the enforcement exercise is part of efforts to ensure complete compliance with existing regulations governing alcoholic beverages.
NAFDAC said its enforcement teams have been deployed to markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars and other distribution channels to identify, seize and destroy all prohibited alcoholic products still in circulation.
The agency stressed that the operation would be comprehensive and sustained.
The regulatory agency warned manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, hawkers and transporters to voluntarily surrender any remaining stock of the banned products.
It cautioned that anyone found in possession of or selling the prohibited beverages risks seizure of products, regulatory sanctions and possible prosecution.
NAFDAC explained that the exercise is not a one-time operation but forms part of a broader enforcement and public education campaign designed to eliminate harmful alcohol products from the Nigerian market.
It maintained that safeguarding public health remains at the core of the enforcement exercise. NAFDAC clarified that the operation is not targeted at manufacturers that comply with approved packaging regulations.
Rather, it is focused on removing products that fall below the approved pack-size threshold and are considered to pose significant public health risks.
The agency urged Nigerians to actively support the enforcement exercise by reporting anyone producing, stocking or selling the banned sachet alcohol and sub-200ml PET-bottle alcoholic beverages.
It also advised members of the public to avoid purchasing or consuming the prohibited products. According to NAFDAC, the banned alcoholic beverages are now regarded as unregistered, unsafe and illegal, making public cooperation essential to achieving the objectives of the nationwide exercise.
The agency said collective action would help safeguard communities and future generations from the harmful effects of alcohol abuse.
NAFDAC further encouraged Nigerians to report any suspicious activities related to the production, storage or sale of the banned alcoholic beverages to the nearest NAFDAC office, reaffirming its commitment to protecting public health and enforcing regulatory standards nationwide.