NAFDAC commences enforcement of ban on alcoholic drinks in Rivers

Abdullateef Fowewe

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has commenced the enforcement of the ban on sale and use of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and glass bottles below 200ml in Rivers State.

The agency according to a statement by its South-South Zonal Director, Chukwuma Oligbu, and signed by the Public Relations Officer for the zone, Cyril Monye, began the enforcement by targeting distributors at Rumuokoro Market in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The statement confirmed the discovery of large quantities of the prohibited products in two shops during the enforcement exercise.

The banned items, comprising hundreds of cartons of alcoholic drinks in sachets and PET bottles, were put on hold as the traders became confrontational, obstructing efforts to remove the products, stating that manufacturers were given a five-year notice in 2018 to discontinue the production of these beverages, with the grace period expiring in December 2023.

The pharmacist pointed out that the ban was officially announced by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, in February 2024.

The statement reads partly, “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.”

However, the statement warned manufacturers to cease production of the banned items, stressing that NAFDAC will intensify its crackdown on offending companies and continue seizing such products from supermarkets, shops, and hawkers nationwide.