The report that the federal government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to stay action on the ban of alcohol products in sachet and 200ml PET bottles has drawn reaction from the government.
The step to ban the affected products on grounds that it was within minors’ reach has all this while provoked controversy with those in the business and their workers irked.
The aggrieved have consistently claimed that it would lead to massive job loss while investment would go down the drain.
The federal government through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF, and the Senate intervened in the ensued crisis with both directing NAFDAC to stay action at one time, only to later directed the agency to enforce the ban.
Report emerged that government had directed NAFDAC to suspend the ongoing enforcement, a claim OSGF has now denied.
The clarification followed widespread circulation of a report suggesting fresh intervention by the OSGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, to halt NAFDAC’s enforcement actions.
In an interview with newsmen, Terrence Kuanam, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, said that the statement in circulation was an old document originally issued in December 2025.
This, he declared created confusion, adding that while the Federal Ministry of Health had provided its position on the ban, NAFDAC had yet to respond to an inquiry sent by the OSGF in November 2025.
“We wrote to NAFDAC and the Health Ministry in November to get their informed positions. The minister has responded, but NAFDAC has not. Until they respond, the OSGF will determine the next line of action on the matter,” he said.
