The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has refuted a media report alleging that the Federal Government directed it to suspend enforcement actions on the regulation of sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.

In a statement on Wednesday, the agency described the publication as false and misleading, stressing that it had not received any official communication from the Federal Government ordering a halt to its regulatory activities.

A news report on Wednesday, in a statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Terrence Kuanum, claimed that the Federal Government had directed NAFDAC to suspend all enforcement actions relating to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.

However, Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency operated strictly within its statutory mandate and in line with duly communicated Federal Government policies.

“The said publication is false, misleading, and does not reflect any official communication received by the Agency from the Federal Government.

“At no time has the Agency received any formal directive ordering the suspension of its regulatory or enforcement activities in respect of sachet alcohol products,” Adeyeye said.

She reiterated that NAFDAC remains committed to safeguarding public health, ensuring regulatory compliance, and carrying out its responsibilities transparently and in accordance with established laws and due process.

“Any decision affecting national regulatory actions will be communicated through official government channels,” she added.

Adeyeye urged members of the public, industry stakeholders, and the media to disregard the report and rely only on verified information issued through the agency’s official platforms and authorised government communication channels.

The agency also cautioned against the dissemination of unverified information capable of causing unnecessary public anxiety, economic uncertainty, or misinterpretation of government policy.

NAFDAC stated that it remains steadfast in its commitment to public health, economic stability, and the national interest.

The regulation of sachet alcohol and small-volume alcoholic beverages has been a subject of national debate in recent years, particularly over concerns about underage access, substance abuse, and public health risks. (The PUNCH)