NAFDAC Denies Directive to Suspend Sachet Alcohol Ban, Flags False Report

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has dismissed as false a media report claiming the Federal Government ordered it to suspend enforcement actions on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the agency said it had received no formal communication from the government directing a halt to its regulatory activities.

The clarification follows a news report quoting the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Terrence Kuanum, who claimed such a directive had been issued in Abuja.

But NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the publication as misleading and unfounded.

“The said publication is false, misleading, and does not reflect any official communication received by the agency from the Federal Government,” Adeyeye said.

“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.”

She reiterated that NAFDAC operates strictly within its statutory mandate and remains committed to public health, regulatory compliance, and transparency.

Adeyeye urged the public, industry stakeholders, and the media to disregard the report and rely only on verified information from official government channels.

The agency also warned against the spread of unverified information capable of causing public anxiety, economic uncertainty, or policy misinterpretation.

The regulation of sachet alcohol and small-volume alcoholic beverages has sparked national debate in recent years, particularly over concerns about underage access, substance abuse, and public health risks.