NAFDAC Shuts Three Ogun Distilleries Over Illegal Production of Banned Sachet Alcohol
NAFDAC Shuts Three Ogun Distilleries Over Illegal Production of Banned Sachet Alcohol
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its crackdown on the production of banned alcoholic beverages by sealing three distilleries in Ogun State for allegedly manufacturing sachet alcohol and PET bottled alcoholic drinks below 200ml, in violation of existing regulations.
The enforcement exercise, carried out in the Sango-Ota and Idi-Iroko areas of the state, signals the agency’s renewed focus on tackling manufacturers rather than distributors in its efforts to eliminate the prohibited products from the market.
Speaking to journalists during the operation, Assistant Director of NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Mr Kunle Ojo, said the affected companies were Intercontinental Distilleries Ltd., Shashi Distillery Ltd., and an undisclosed production facility linked to Nigeria Distillery Ltd.
Ojo explained that the hidden factory was uncovered through intelligence gathered during the agency’s ongoing second phase of nationwide enforcement of the Federal Government’s ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in PET bottles smaller than 200ml.
According to him, officials had initially inspected Nigeria Distillery Ltd.’s premises along Kilometre 14, Idi-Iroko Road without finding any prohibited activities. However, a tip-off received on July 24 led the team to the undisclosed facility, where they discovered banned packaging materials and production activities.
“We found countless 100ml alcoholic bottles, sachet packaging materials and production machines actively manufacturing banned sachet alcohol,” Ojo said.
He further disclosed that some of the prohibited items found during an earlier inspection had disappeared before the factory was sealed, describing the development as a serious violation that would attract administrative sanctions.
Ojo recalled that NAFDAC had visited Intercontinental Distilleries Ltd. and Shashi Distillery Ltd. in January, where 22 machines used for producing sachet alcohol were stopped and banned packaging materials were evacuated.
He said a follow-up inspection on July 24 revealed that the companies had resumed production using the same prohibited packaging materials, prompting the agency to shut down the facilities.
“When we returned, we found old packaging materials and discovered that the machines we had earlier placed on hold were back in operation, producing the banned products. This is why we decided to seal the entire factories because they continued producing what NAFDAC had expressly prohibited,” he said.
Ojo reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to enforcing the ban and sanitising the country’s alcoholic beverage market in order to protect public health.
He also appealed to Nigerians to report any suspected illegal production of banned alcoholic drinks to the nearest NAFDAC office for prompt action.
