The National Food and Drugs Administration Control, NAFDAC and the distilling arm of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN,are making moves to ban sales of small volume alcohol in sachets and plastic containers in the country
Sheriff Olagunju, Director, Food Safety and Supplies of NAFDAC,disclosed this during a sensitisation programe in Ilorin,Kwara state.
His comment came on the heels of the rising menace posed by alcohol in small packages to under underage Nigerians.
He said:”I can assure you that NAFDAC and distillers are working at a process of phasing out the sales of alcohol drinks in small sachets and small plastic bottles.It has been noticed that young people, especially students in secondary schools buy these beverage and put it in their pockets for drinking later.
“Such practice is harmful,” he said.
Olagunju said that the process had to be followed in phasing out that package to protect investments in the distillery busines.
Earlier at the flag off of the agency’s sensitisation campaign, Prof Moji Christianah, DG, NAFDAC, addressed the public on nine items out of many others affecting food and drug regulations in the country.
Speaking through Mrs Abolaji Abayomi, Zonal coordinator, North Central of NAFDAC, the DG warned of the dangers of buying medicines from hawkers.
“Patients are to buy medicines from only licensed Pharmacies and Medicine Stores,” she said.
She also said that abuse of Codeine and self-medication especially among youths is clear and present danger.
