NAFDAC DG Fumes Over Sachet Alcohol as She Brands It an ‘Uncontrollable Monster’, Shuts Down 3 Big Distillers

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken a defiant stance on its sweeping prohibition of alcohol sold in sachets and small PET containers below 200ml, warning that the unregulated circulation of pocket-sized hard liquor has evolved into a national security menace that actively fuels banditry and tears through vital human organs.

Making the agency’s position clear during a televised interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the rampant spread of miniature spirits as a public health crisis that had spiraled out of control. She noted that while small-format packaging was originally greenlit roughly thirty years ago, the regulatory leadership at the time could not have foreseen how the product would proliferate into a destructive force undermining the country’s youth and national productivity.

Adeyeye drew a direct connection between the widespread availability of low-cost, high-strength alcohol and the surge in violent crimes plaguing communities. She explained that easy access allows young people and outlaws to consume concentrated spirits on the go without detection, dulling inhibitions and emboldening criminal conduct such as armed robbery and banditry. Beyond the social vices, the NAFDAC boss cautioned that habitual consumption silently ravages the body, inflicting catastrophic damage on the brain, lungs, kidneys, and liver.

Highlighting the agency’s enforcement record, Adeyeye revealed that regulatory operatives had cracked down on non-compliant production facilities, shutting down three major manufacturing companies for a three-week period and handing several erring operators over to law enforcement. She explained that distillers had previously entered into formal, written undertakings pledging to discontinue the packaging of alcohol in sachets and small bottles, but later sought to backtrack as commercial deadlines approached.

Addressing the resistance from trade unions and street protests that broke out in commercial hubs like Ibadan, Adeyeye maintained that government policy cannot be dictated by short-term financial considerations. She stressed that while business operators focus on immediate commercial margins, the state has a higher duty to safeguard the physical and psychological well-being of the next generation.

Reiterating that the restrictions are a fundamental pillar of the National Alcohol Policy implemented by the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC assured the public that it will not compromise on enforcement. Adeyeye affirmed that the agency remains undeterred by industry agitation, maintaining that protecting public safety and sanitizing retail shelves from pocket-sized intoxicants remains an urgent, non-negotiable national priority.