From Victor Osula, Abuja
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, dismissed reports suggesting that the Federal Government had ordered it to suspend enforcement actions against sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.
The Agency described such claims as “false and misleading.”
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Agency clarified that it has not received any official communication directing a halt to its regulatory activities concerning sachet alcohol products.
She emphasized that the publication in question does not reflect any official communication received by the Agency from the Federal Government.
NAFDAC reiterated that it operates strictly within its statutory mandate and in line with duly communicated government policies. Its enforcement actions continue to be guided by existing laws and regulatory frameworks.
Adeyeye stated that 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 Agency further warned against the circulation of unverified information, noting that such reports could cause public anxiety, economic uncertainty, and misinterpretation of government policy.
NAFDAC urged members of the public, industry stakeholders, and the media to disregard the false report and to rely only on verified information issued through the Agency’s official platforms and authorized government communication channels.
This clarification comes amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny of sachet alcohol products, which have faced criticism over their high accessibility and misuse, particularly among young people. NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to public health, economic stability, and the national interest.
The ban on sachet alcohol and PET bottles under 200ml was initially proposed to take full effect in early 2024, following a five-year phase-out agreement reached in 2018 with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria.
Despite pushback from manufacturers and labor unions citing potential job losses, NAFDAC has maintained that the health of Nigerians, especially the youth, remains the priority.
