Sachet alcohol business continues, despite NAFDAC’s ban —Investigation

Despite the directives given by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to manufacturers of sachet liquor to recall the drinks or get their plants shut, investigations by the Nigerian Tribune have revealed that sales of this size of alcoholic beverages still continue unhindered.

NAFDAC had, last week, warned manufacturers of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET plastics bottles below 200ml that it would permanently shut down their facilities if the ban on such contents were not complied with, while insisting that the ban had taken effect from January this year.

But investigations by Nigerian Tribune revealed that the beverages are still being sold in many parts of the country, in spite of the warning.

For instance, visits to parts of Lagos and Ogun States revealed that there were not such efforts at complying with the agency’s directives since sachet alcoholic beverages were seen displayed at strategic parts of the city by traders dealing in the business.

For instance, in Iyana Ipaja, Abule Egba, Ikeja, Obalende, Ikotun and many other places in Lagos visited by Nigerian Tribune, those items were publicly displayed, with the traders patiently waiting for those who patronise such goods.

More interesting to the correspondent is the fact that at Iyana Ipaja, in Lagos, some of them were even displayed very close to motor parks, with some drivers seen making purchases from sellers.

The same thing happened in Ogun State. The drinks ranging from bitters to spirits were displayed in places like Sango, Oju Ore, Canaan Land and several bus stops in Ota, Ado Odo Local Government Council, with many of the traders claiming ignorance of NAFDAC’s directive that the items had been slated for a recall by the manufacturers.

One of the traders who volunteered…