The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has defended the enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol, saying Nigeria must prioritise the health and safety of children over commercial interests.
Speaking on ARISE News on Friday, Adeyeye said the decision to enforce the ban followed years of engagement with manufacturers, regulatory extensions, and growing concerns about underage access to high concentration alcohol products.
She stressed that the ban is aimed at protecting children, not crippling businesses.
“So it is on their side that they are all about money, not about health. We are about health and good investments… But we cannot sacrifice our children on the altar of trade.”
According to her, NAFDAC’s mandate includes regulating alcohol as a food product, stressing that the agency is not banning alcohol outright but restricting its sale in small, easily concealable packages.
“We are not banning alcohol. We approve alcohol in different packages. It is only in small packages that we are banning.”
Adeyeye traced the policy back to 2018, when NAFDAC first raised concerns about sachet alcohol containing between 43 percent and 45 percent alcohol.
“That can be easily squeezed into the pocket of a primary school, secondary school child.”
She explained that an agreement was reached with industry stakeholders under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Health, granting manufacturers five years to reorganise their businesses.
“We all signed that by, after five years, they will not sell alcohol in sachets.”
She said the initial moratorium expired on 31 January 2024, but enforcement was suspended following interventions from lawmakers and industry groups, leading to an additional one year extension.
“The Minister called me and said there had been some discussion, we should give one year moratorium, an extra one year above the five years that we have given before. And that one year expired December 2025.”
Adeyeye said enforcement resumed after the Senate directed NAFDAC to act, despite opposition from manufacturers seeking further extensions.
She rejected arguments that warning labels could prevent underage drinking, questioning their practicality in Nigeria.
“Do not use under 18. Do not use in Nigeria, are we kidding ourselves? Are we really kidding ourselves? In Nigeria? Who is going to enforce?”
Reiterating NAFDAC’s position, she said the policy aligns with Nigeria’s international commitments.
“In 2010, Nigeria signed an agreement, World Health Assembly, 2010, 193 countries signed it that we will not make alcohol to be easily accessible to vulnerable populations.”
Addressing concerns over continued product registration during the moratorium, Adeyeye said the agency was complying with legislative directives at the time.
“We were honouring the moratorium, the extended moratorium that was given by registering within a period.”
She added:
“I think we are learning our lessons now that we shouldn’t have even listened or register products, a product at that particular period.”
On reports of a court injunction halting enforcement, Adeyeye said NAFDAC had not been formally served.
“NAFDAC has not been served. If we have been served, I have not been given that.”
She maintained that the agency was acting in line with legislative authority.
“The Senate gave us the order to resume enforcement.”
Adeyeye also addressed calls to reduce alcohol concentration rather than ban sachet packaging, saying the issue went beyond alcohol strength to accessibility and concealment.
“Actually, it is scientifically possible. It is not just the volume. It is the pack size.”
She cited firsthand accounts from school administrators to illustrate the scale of the problem.
“The principal said that in his school, a student said that he cannot study for exam without a sachet alcohol.”
She warned of long term health consequences for children exposed to alcohol early.
“We are making our children addicts. Addicts.”
“Because you are frying your liver slowly with alcohol over time.”
Responding to claims that NAFDAC shut down companies, Adeyeye clarified that enforcement targeted production lines, not entire businesses.
“Lines have been shut down… We are shutting down lines.”
She dismissed allegations that the agency engages manufacturers in monologue rather than dialogue, saying regular meetings had been held.
“We were having regular meetings, quarterly meetings with MAN.”
Adeyeye accused industry groups of prioritising profit over public health.
“So it is on their side that they are all about money, not about health.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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