NAFDAC Official Stabbed During Raid on Banned Sachet Alcohol Producers in Lagos

A National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) official was stabbed while another was assaulted during an enforcement operation against the production of banned sachet alcohol and miniature PET bottled alcoholic drinks in Lagos State.

The agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Lagos, describing the attacks as criminal acts against the Nigerian state.

According to Adeyeye, the stabbed official narrowly escaped death after an attacker pulled out a weapon during the operation. She added that the violent attacks would not deter the agency from enforcing the Federal Government’s ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and containers below 200 millilitres.

She warned that all individuals involved in assaulting or obstructing NAFDAC officials would be investigated and prosecuted.

Adeyeye also alleged that some manufacturers had deliberately attempted to undermine the government’s regulations by continuing the production of banned alcoholic beverages despite the prohibition.

She revealed that enforcement teams recovered prohibited 100ml PET bottles and sachet packaging materials bearing production dates as recent as July 23, describing the discovery as evidence that manufacturers were still violating the ban.

The NAFDAC boss further disclosed that intelligence gathered during the operation showed that some companies had dismantled production lines from registered factories and secretly relocated them to unregistered facilities to evade routine regulatory inspections.

She said the agency would sustain its nationwide mop-up exercise until all banned sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in containers below 200ml are removed from the market.

NAFDAC had earlier explained that the ban, which took effect nationwide, was introduced to protect children and young people from the dangers of underage alcohol consumption rather than to punish manufacturers.

The agency has continued enforcement across the country, shutting down several companies found violating the directive.