By Morayo Johnson
The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to halt all enforcement actions related to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET-bottled alcoholic drinks.
The directive, issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Terrence Kuanum, also ordered the agency to immediately stop sealing factories and warehouses over the matter.
According to the statement, the decision followed a joint intervention by the Office of the SGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser, citing security and economic concerns surrounding the continued enforcement of the ban without a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy.
Although the National Alcohol Policy has been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive, the government maintained that enforcement must be suspended pending final consultations and coordinated implementation.
The government warned that ongoing factory closures and warehouse sealing were already disrupting supply chains, threatening jobs and posing potential security risks nationwide.
It assured Nigerians and industry stakeholders that a final decision would be announced after comprehensive consultations, balancing public health objectives with economic stability and national security considerations.
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