Traders Clash with NAFDAC over Banned Alcoholic Products in Rivers

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has faced resistance from traders during a raid at Rumuokoro Market, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, aimed at enforcing the federal ban on alcoholic beverages below 200ml.

 

According to a statement published on its official website on Saturday, hundreds of cartons of sachet and PET bottle alcohol were discovered in two shops. However, traders resisted the agency’s efforts to confiscate the products, prompting NAFDAC to place the banned items on HOLD, temporarily suspending their removal.

 

The ban, effective in February 2024, followed a five-year grace period granted to manufacturers in 2018 to phase out production. Developed in consultation with stakeholders, the directive seeks to curb the public health risks associated with small-sized alcoholic beverages, particularly among Nigerian youths.

 

A NAFDAC official states, “Our mission is clear—protecting public health and ensuring compliance with federal regulations. Any manufacturer still producing these beverages will face severe penalties.”

 

NAFDAC has pledged to sustain its efforts by removing banned products from markets, supermarkets, and street vendors nationwide.

 

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