Naija people, make una gather here! Big news don drop as NAFDAC don chop the matter of sachet and small-pack alcohol. Dem say dem go stop dis thing wey plenty youth dey chop anyhow, and na true matter be dis for public health concern.
Martins Iluyomade, the Director of Investigation for NAFDAC come yarn am for interview with ARISE News, say dis enforcement don start since earlier this week. Na day four now, and e dey progress well, but no be say dem fit cover everywhere at once. Na monitoring dey happen as dey go.
“We dey look at the health wahala, especially for young people and children wey dey abuse highly concentrated alcohol. Sachet alcohol don turn problem as e dey cheap and fit enter pocket well well. You fit buy am for ₦100, and carry as many as you fit hold,” he talk.
Dis ban no be small matter o! NAFDAC don give manufacturers five years to adjust since 2018, and now dem don start serious enforcement. Dem wan stop production before dem go enter market to clear wetin dey ground. Na wetin dem call ‘phase one’ as dem dey hold stocks for warehouse.
Dem don see wetin happen when youth fit access dis sachet alcohol too easily—plenty bad behaviors don dey increase. Iluyomade talk am clearly say dis enforcement no be to stop alcohol production altogether; na the sachet packing wey make’m easy for people to get drunk quick.
Na 43% concentration of alcohol go dey inside some sachet wey fit make person lose control fast, compared to beer wey dey around 6-8%. Na why NAFDAC dey follow the matter well—because dem wan protect our children from early exposure to alcohol wey dem no fit handle.
The NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, come add her own voice, say even though adults fit drink, dem need to do am wisely. Children no be small adults, and adult body fit manage alcohol better than pikin body. Dem don sign agreements with stakeholders since 2018; dem no just wake up come decide to ban sachet.
But as manufacturers dey complain about economic wahala, NAFDAC no dey shake. Iluyomade talk say dem dey focused on public health first, even though dem get consultations wey go happen to ease transition.
Dey still dey highlight say dem no go allow any seized products re-enter market as dem dey work to complete dis enforcement. E get as e be, we must consider how alcohol fit affect our society, especially for our younger ones. Not be joke, o!
As NAFDAC dey move to stop production lines and secure warehouses, dey dey plan to touch market level operations next. Dey wan make sure say as dem later enter the market, wetin dey there no go cause any more harm.
Nigerians, make we dey watch this space! As dis enforcement dey happen, we go keep una updated. We fit sign fb, WhatsApp, and other channels to follow am as e dey unfold. Safety first, abeg!
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