Nigeria’s drug and food regulator, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has dismissed as “false and misleading” a media report claiming that the federal government ordered it to suspend enforcement actions relating to sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the agency said it had received no official communication directing it to pause regulatory activity, insisting it remains bound by its statutory mandate and existing government policies.
The denial follows a report circulated earlier on Wednesday, attributed to a statement from the special adviser on public affairs to the secretary to the government of the federation, Terrence Kuanum, which claimed Abuja had instructed NAFDAC to suspend all enforcement actions tied to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and small-volume alcoholic beverages.
But NAFDAC’s director general, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said the report did not reflect reality.
“The said publication is false, misleading, and does not reflect any official communication received by the agency from the federal government,” she 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.”
Adeyeye said the agency’s actions remained guided by law and due process, stressing that any major policy shift would be communicated only through formal government channels.
“Any decision affecting national regulatory actions will be communicated through official government channels,” she said.
The regulator urged the public, industry players and journalists to disregard the report and rely only on verified information issued through NAFDAC’s official platforms and authorised government communication outlets.
It also warned that the spread of unverified claims risked stirring unnecessary anxiety, creating uncertainty in the economy and misrepresenting government policy.
The regulation of sachet alcohol and other small-volume alcoholic products has become a contentious issue in recent years, with public health advocates raising concerns about underage access, rising substance abuse and the growing availability of cheap spirits in informal markets.
NAFDAC said it remained “steadfast” in its commitment to protecting public health while ensuring compliance and stability in the national interest.
