No FG order to stop sachet alcohol ban – NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismissed claims that the Federal Government ordered it to halt enforcement actions against sachet alcohol across Nigeria.

The agency had recently moved to enforce the ban on alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and small polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles nationwide.

But reports circulating on social media on Wednesday claimed the Federal Government had directed NAFDAC to suspend the crackdown.

Reacting, NAFDAC, in a statement signed by its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the report as false and misleading, insisting no such directive was received from the Federal Government.

The agency stressed that it operates strictly within its statutory mandate and only acts based on officially communicated government policies and directives.

“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,” the statement said.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring regulatory compliance, noting that any major decision affecting national regulatory actions would be communicated through official government channels.

The agency also urged the public, industry players and the media to ignore unverified reports and rely only on information released through its official platforms, warning that false information could cause public anxiety, economic uncertainty and misinterpretation of government policy.