By Lizzy Chirkpi
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has seized alcoholic beverages worth an estimated ₦300 million packaged in sachets and PET bottles of less than 200ml during enforcement raids across major markets in Lagos.
The agency also arrested distributors and retailers allegedly involved in the sale and distribution of the prohibited products.
The latest operation targeted Ile-Epo Market, Ojuwoye Market in Mushin and Oke-Arin Market on Lagos Island, where NAFDAC officials evacuated several cartons of the banned alcoholic beverages.
At Ile-Epo Market, some distributors and retailers were arrested, while outlets found dealing in the prohibited products were shut down as enforcement officers intensified the crackdown.
NAFDAC said preliminary investigations indicated that some traders were hoarding the banned products amid increased demand and rising prices.
“Investigations indicated that some distributors and retailers were hoarding the products amid increased demand and rising prices,” the agency said.
The agency warned that the Federal Government’s ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml remained in force.
“NAFDAC emphasises that the ban remains in force and warns distributors, retailers and other operators against the sale, distribution or hoarding of the prohibited products,” it said.
Two suspects, Grace Ehis Eke, 70, and Azudigwu Prince Eva, 43, were arrested and are being investigated in connection with the enforcement operation.
The Lagos seizures form part of NAFDAC’s ongoing nationwide mop-up of banned alcoholic beverages following the commencement of intensified enforcement operations in July.
The agency had directed manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers to surrender remaining stocks of sachet alcoholic drinks and alcoholic beverages packaged in PET bottles below 200ml.
NAFDAC said the nationwide crackdown was aimed at removing the prohibited products from circulation and curbing underage drinking, harmful alcohol consumption and substance abuse, particularly among children and young people.
The agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, had earlier disclosed that enforcement teams uncovered evidence that some manufacturers were still producing the banned beverages despite the prohibition.
According to Adeyeye, enforcement officers recovered 100ml PET bottles and sachet packaging materials bearing production dates as recent as July 23, 2026.
“Packaging materials dated July 23, 2026, were evacuated. That was four days ago. These manufacturers were producing banned products this very month, just last week, even after the ban had taken full effect and after NAFDAC had already engaged them. This is not a misunderstanding. This is deliberate, calculated defiance of federal regulation,” she said.
NAFDAC said it would sustain the enforcement exercise until the prohibited alcoholic beverages were completely removed from circulation.
The ban followed recommendations by a government-industry committee, which gave manufacturers a five-year period to phase out the products. The phase-out deadline expired in January 2024.