National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has refuted a publication alleging that the Federal Government directed it to suspend enforcement actions relating to the regulation of sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.

In a statement signed by its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency said the publication was false and misleading and did not reflect any official communication from the Federal Government.

Adeyeye stressed that it operated strictly within its statutory mandate and in alignment with duly communicated Federal Government policies and directives. The agency stated that at no time had it received any formal directive ordering the suspension of its regulatory or enforcement activities concerning sachet alcohol products.

It reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health, ensuring regulatory compliance, and carrying out its responsibilities transparently in accordance with established laws and due process. The Agency added that any decision affecting national regulatory actions would be communicated through official government channels.

NAFDAC, therefore, urged members of the public, industry stakeholders, and the media to disregard what it described as the false report and to rely only on verified information issued through its official platforms and authorised government communication channels.

In a statement reportedly issued by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Terrence Kuanum, the Federal Government directed NAFDAC to immediately stop all enforcement actions relating to the ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic products in 200ml PET bottles.

According to the statement, the government also instructed NAFDAC to stop sealing factories and warehouses over the issue.

Kuanum said the directive followed a joint intervention by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which raised concerns about the security implications of continued enforcement in the absence of a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy.

NAFDAC began enforcing the ban on alcohol sold in sachets and PET bottles smaller than 200ml on February 1, 2024.

The move, according to them, was aimed at curbing health risks and widespread abuse linked to cheap, easily accessible alcoholic beverages, particularly among minors and vulnerable populations. The agency later suspended enforcement and extended implementation to December 31, 2025.