NAFDAC threatens to shut down manufacturers still producing banned sachet alcohol

By Oyinkansola Gaffar

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has threatened to shut down the facilities of manufacturers who continue to produce banned sachet and small PET bottle alcoholic products below 200ml.

The warning was issued by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, during a press briefing held in Lagos on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

Providing an update on an ongoing nationwide mop-up operation, Adeyeye revealed that the agency uncovered fresh production of the banned alcoholic drinks despite previous enforcement drives and public sensitization campaigns.

Reacting to the discovery, Adeyeye characterized the continued production as a deliberate and calculated defiance of federal regulation, reiterating that non-compliant operators will face severe consequences.

“Manufacturers found still producing will have their facilities shut down. Products found in the market will be seized and destroyed. Distributors and retailers found handling these products will face sanctions,” Adeyeye said.

She reiterated that the enforcement of the ban remains driven by public health imperatives, particularly the protection of children and adolescents from early exposure to alcohol.

The agency cited findings from a 2021 national survey on underage drinking and alcohol abuse, conducted by the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) in collaboration with NAFDAC.

The survey, which sampled 1,788 respondents across six states, revealed that 54.3 percent of minors obtained alcohol by themselves, while 49.9 percent accessed alcohol from retailers selling sachet packs and small PET bottles.

According to NAFDAC, these statistics reinforce the public health justification for the ban and underscore the necessity of strict regulatory measures to curb underage access.

“The ban exists to protect Nigerians, especially our children, and NAFDAC has a duty to enforce it,” Adeyeye stated.

The Director-General disclosed that during market raids and mop-up operations, some enforcement officers faced violent resistance. One officer was nearly stabbed, while another suffered physical assault.

Describing any attack on regulatory officers as an attack on the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Adeyeye assured that all perpetrators would be investigated and prosecuted.

She called on the public to assist enforcement efforts by refusing to buy sachet and PET bottle alcoholic products below 200ml, prohibiting their sale in local communities, and reporting non-compliant manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to the agency.