The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has defended the restriction on the sale of alcohol in small sachets and PET bottles, saying alcohol consumption poses serious health and social concerns in Nigeria.
Adeyeye made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, while discussing the agency’s regulation of alcoholic beverages.
The NAFDAC boss said alcohol can encourage banditry and warned about its potential effects on vital organs, particularly the kidneys and liver.
“Alcohol encourages banditry, destroys the kidneys and liver,” Adeyeye said.
She acknowledged that the restriction on alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and PET bottles of less than 200ml had faced opposition from some members of the public.
According to her, the regulation became necessary after the availability and consumption of small-sized alcoholic drinks grew beyond the level originally envisaged when their sale was approved decades ago.
Adeyeye said the smaller packaging made alcohol more accessible and contributed to concerns about its consumption, particularly among younger Nigerians.
She maintained that the agency’s position was driven by concerns about the long-term wellbeing of Nigerians and the impact of alcohol abuse on children and young people.
“Although the ban on the sale of alcohol in sachets and PET bottles of less than 200ml did not sit well with some people, Nigerians are concerned about the future of their children,” she said.
The NAFDAC chief also linked excessive alcohol consumption to wider social problems, although she did not provide specific data during the interview to quantify the relationship between alcohol use and banditry.
NAFDAC’s regulatory mandate covers the safety and quality of food, drugs and other regulated products in Nigeria. The agency says its regulatory system is intended to ensure that regulated products available to consumers meet required safety and quality standards.
The renewed comments come amid continuing debate over restrictions on alcoholic beverages sold in small containers, with manufacturers, retailers and other stakeholders previously expressing concerns about the economic implications of such regulations.
Adeyeye, however, maintained that public health considerations remained central to NAFDAC’s position.
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