NAFDAC begins nationwide crackdown on sachet, PET bottle alcoholic drinks

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has urged the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to deepen collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to curb the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard medicines across the country.

Akume made the call yesterday in Abuja while receiving the leadership of the ACPN, led by its National Chairman, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekanma Ezeh.

He commended the association for its contributions to advancing pharmacy practice and improving healthcare delivery, describing community pharmacists as frontline stakeholders in protecting public health.

The SGF warned that the circulation of fake and substandard medicines remains one of the gravest threats to Nigeria’s healthcare system, stressing that the battle against counterfeit drugs requires coordinated action by government agencies, professional bodies, pharmaceutical manufacturers and the public.

“The menace of fake drugs continues to pose a danger to the health and well-being of Nigerians. You must join hands with NAFDAC in checking this menace because it is a responsibility that demands the support of all of us. While NAFDAC is doing a great job, it also requires the active collaboration of professional bodies such as the ACPN,” Akume said.

Drawing from a recent engagement with a Ugandan delegation, the SGF noted that Uganda had made remarkable progress in local pharmaceutical production and encouraged Nigerian pharmacists to embrace partnerships and knowledge exchange to strengthen domestic drug manufacturing.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving healthcare under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing quality healthcare delivery as one of the administration’s top priorities.

MEANWHILE, NAFDAC has commenced a nationwide enforcement operation to remove alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles below 200 millilitres from circulation.

This is in line with the Federal Government’s ban on the production, importation, distribution, sale and use of such products.

In a post on its X account on Wednesday, the agency said the enforcement exercise, which is being carried out simultaneously across the six geopolitical zones, follows the closure of non-compliant manufacturing facilities and forms part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to safeguard public health.

As part of the operation, NAFDAC enforcement teams are conducting coordinated inspections in markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars and other distribution channels to identify, seize and remove the banned alcoholic products from circulation.

The agency warned that manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, transporters and other stakeholders must immediately surrender any remaining stock of the prohibited products.

“Continued possession, distribution or sale of the banned alcoholic beverages constitutes a violation of the law and may attract regulatory sanctions, product seizure and prosecution,” it said.