NAFDAC uncovers fresh production of banned sachet alcohol, vows tougher enforcement
By Precious Mark
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered fresh production of banned alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and plastic bottles below 200 millilitres during a nationwide enforcement operation.
The agency also disclosed that some manufacturers relocated their production to hidden locations to evade regulators, while enforcement officers were attacked during raids carried out in Lagos, Ogun and several other states.
Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja while giving an update on the agency’s nationwide mop-up operation against the banned products.
She said enforcement teams found that some manufacturers were still producing the prohibited alcoholic drinks despite the Federal Government’s directive banning their production, distribution and sale.
According to her, investigations showed that the products found in markets were not old stock but newly manufactured items.
“We recovered banned 100ml PET bottles and rolls of packaging materials bearing production dates as recent as July 23, 2026. This shows that some manufacturers were still producing these products only a few days ago despite the ban,” she said.
Adeyeye alleged that some manufacturers deliberately moved their production machines to unregistered locations to avoid detection by regulators, while others removed their company signboards to conceal their operations.
She said NAFDAC officers also found finished products and empty 100ml bottles positioned beside production machines in some facilities visited during the operation.
The NAFDAC boss described the actions of the manufacturers as a deliberate violation of Federal Government regulations, stressing that the agency would continue to identify and shut down all illegal production centres.
She also revealed that some enforcement officers were attacked while carrying out the operation.
According to her, one officer was nearly stabbed after a weapon was drawn on him during an enforcement exercise, while another officer was physically assaulted by suspected offenders.
She condemned the attacks, describing them as criminal acts against public officers carrying out lawful duties.
“An attack on a NAFDAC officer enforcing the law is an attack on the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Those responsible will be investigated and prosecuted,” she said.
Adeyeye maintained that the ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in PET bottles below 200ml remains in force and is not open to negotiation.
She warned that manufacturers found producing the banned products would have their factories shut down, while seized products would be destroyed.
She added that distributors and retailers who continue to stock or sell the products would also face sanctions.
The Director-General explained that the ban followed Federal Government directives backed by Senate resolutions aimed at reducing underage drinking, substance abuse and alcohol-related health problems among young Nigerians.
She recalled that NAFDAC, the National Orientation Agency and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) jointly announced the enforcement of the ban in March 2026 after the expiration of the moratorium granted to manufacturers.
Appealing to Nigerians to support the exercise, Adeyeye urged members of the public not to buy alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets or PET bottles below 200ml and to report any manufacturer, distributor or retailer still dealing in the banned products.
She assured Nigerians that NAFDAC would sustain the nationwide mop-up operation until all prohibited alcoholic products are removed from the market.
“Our responsibility is to protect public health, especially our children. We will continue to shut down non-compliant factories, seize banned products and prosecute anyone who violates the law,” she said.