The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Ogun State Police Command have intensified enforcement against the sale and distribution of alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml (20cl).
The enforcement exercise, which began in Abeokuta, is being extended to other parts of Ogun State and will continue until full compliance is achieved.
The Police Relations Officer of the Ogun State Command, Eleweran, Abeokuta, Deputy Superintendent of Police Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a post on the command’s X handle on Friday.
According to him, NAFDAC’s Ogun Office 1 State Coordinator, Akinwale Fagoroye, led a delegation to the command headquarters in Eleweran, where they met with the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni.
Fagoroye said the exercise was focused on removing alcoholic drinks below 200ml from circulation, as part of efforts to protect public health and reduce the harmful effects associated with easy access to cheap and highly portable alcoholic beverages.
He said children and young people were particularly vulnerable to the effects of such products.
“The enforcement exercise, which commenced in Abeokuta, is being extended to other parts of Ogun State and will continue until full compliance is achieved,” Fagoroye said.
NAFDAC urged manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers and consumers to comply with the directive and cooperate with its enforcement teams.
The agency said its officers were conducting checks at markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars, warehouses, factories and other locations where regulated products are manufactured, stored or sold.
NAFDAC is also empowered to act against fake, unregistered, substandard, adulterated, expired or wrongly labelled regulated products, as well as facilities operating without the necessary approvals.
Ojajuni commended NAFDAC for its public health efforts and assured the agency of the police command’s continued security support during lawful enforcement operations.
“The Police and NAFDAC will continue to work together, within their respective mandates, to ensure compliance with the law and protect residents from activities and products that may pose risks to their health and safety,” Ojajuni said.
The commissioner added that the police were enforcing the Liquor Act and other applicable laws governing the sale and distribution of alcoholic drinks in the state.
He urged manufacturers, distributors, sellers and consumers to comply with the regulations and cooperate with authorised enforcement officers.
Ojajuni also called on residents to report suspected fake, unsafe or unapproved products, as well as illegal alcohol-related activities, to the relevant authorities.
The command said it would continue supporting lawful regulatory enforcement and other government measures aimed at protecting lives and public safety in Ogun State.
