As the five-year window to stop the production of alcoholic beverages in sachet and pet bottles below 200ml expired in December 2023 the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced the enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages below 200ml by clamping down on major distributors at Rumuokoro Market, Port Harcourt.
In press release signed Cyril Monye
Public Relations Officer
NAFDAC, South-South Zone said during the exercise large quantities of the banned alcoholic drinks of
various brands were discovered in two shops, the drinks running into
hundreds of cartons in sachets and pet bottles were put on ‘HOLD’ as
the traders became unruly, preventing NAFDAC officials from evacuating the products.
NAFDAC Director, South-South Zone Pharm. Chukwuma Oligbu said that in 2018 the agency gave the manufacturers a five-year window to stop the production of alcoholic beverages in sachet and pet bottles below 200ml which expired in December 2023 adding that the ban was announced by the Director General, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye in February, 2024.
“The ban of these alcoholic beverages was a decision of multilateral committee set up by the federal government that involves all stakeholders in the business and NAFDAC will not standby while the lives of young Nigerians are been endangered by spirits”, the Director
stated.
Pharm. Chukwuma Oligbu warned that the agency will come down hard on companies that are still producing those categories of drinks while the mop up of those found in supermarkets, shops, markets and from hawkers will continue.