The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its nationwide enforcement against the illegal production of sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in plastic bottles below 200 millilitres, sealing several distilleries in Lagos and Ogun states.

The operation, led by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, and Assistant Director Kunle Ojo, uncovered what the agency described as clandestine manufacturing activities at several facilities, including major distilleries in Ota, Ogun State. Officials said they recovered packaging materials and products bearing production dates as recent as July 23, 2026, indicating that manufacturers continued producing the banned items despite the enforcement of the federal prohibition.

According to NAFDAC, some manufacturers attempted to evade regulators by dismantling equipment from registered factories and relocating production to unregistered sites. Others allegedly removed company signboards and operated from concealed locations to avoid detection.

Speaking during the enforcement exercise, Prof. Adeyeye said the discoveries showed deliberate violations of government regulations.

“Packaging materials dated July 23, 2026, were evacuated. These manufacturers were producing banned products this very month, even after the ban had taken full effect. This is not a misunderstanding; it is deliberate and calculated defiance of federal regulation,” she said.

The agency also disclosed that enforcement officers encountered resistance during some of the operations, with factory workers and union members allegedly obstructing officials and assaulting personnel carrying out their duties. NAFDAC warned that anyone found attacking regulatory officers would face prosecution.

The ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in containers below 200 millilitres was introduced following recommendations by a committee comprising the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). Authorities said the policy was designed to reduce alcohol abuse, particularly among young people, and curb the easy availability of cheap alcoholic drinks.

The agency noted that the small-sized packaging made alcohol more accessible to minors and easier to conceal in schools, workplaces and public transport facilities. It also raised concerns over the role of such products in promoting alcohol consumption among commercial drivers and increasing the risk of road accidents.

NAFDAC further warned that illegally produced alcohol poses serious health risks, including exposure to contaminated or adulterated products that could contain dangerous substances such as methanol, which can cause poisoning, blindness or death.

The agency said manufacturers found producing or distributing banned alcoholic beverages risk permanent closure of their facilities, confiscation of products and equipment, and prosecution under Nigeria’s food and drug safety laws.

It also urged members of the public to avoid purchasing sachet alcohol or sub-200ml alcoholic drinks from unauthorized sources, warning that products manufactured in hidden facilities may not meet safety standards.

NAFDAC said nationwide enforcement operations would continue across factories, markets, motor parks and retail outlets until banned sachet alcohol products are completely removed from circulation, reaffirming its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring compliance with federal regulations.