News Investigators/ The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Saturday, took the campaign against small-sized alcoholic beverages to markets in Uyo.
The NAFDAC team which visited the Nyong Essien, Udo Umana and Akpan Andem Markets in Uyo metropolis, seized banned alcoholic beverages worth millions of naira.
Speaking to newsmen, John Naeche, NAFDAC Coordinator, Akwa Ibom, said that sales of alcoholic beverages in sachets and bottles below 200ml had been banned since 2023.
Mr Naeche said that the ban was a decision made by a multilateral committee involving all stakeholders in the business.
He expressed displeasure that in spite of the ban, dealers were still openly displaying them in markets for members of the public to buy.
Mr Naeche said that enforcement of the ban began after a five-year moratorium given to manufacturers to phase them out.
“The grace period expired in Dec. 2023. the ban is to protect the lives of young Nigerians who are targeted by manufacturers of these alcoholic beverages.
“The ban is aimed to discourage the consumption of alcohol in small quantities which can lead to addiction and health problems.
“We are enforcing the ban and mopping up the products from the markets. It will be a continuous exercise. We shall sustain the crackdown in the interest of the public,” he said.
The NAFDAC official urged traders to desist from selling the banned products or face the risk of having them confiscated and destroyed.
Mr Naeche said that the agency would destroy all the products seized during the exercise in order to send a clear message to manufacturers and dealers.
NAN
