The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Ogun State Police Command have strengthened their collaboration to enforce regulations on alcoholic beverages and protect public health across the state.
The command’s Police Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday following a meeting between the NAFDAC State Coordinator for Ogun Office 1, Akinwale Fagoroye, and the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, at the command headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.
Fagoroye said NAFDAC had commenced enforcement operations in Abeokuta and would extend the exercise to other parts of the state until full compliance is achieved. He said a major focus was the removal from circulation of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles containing less than 200 millilitres, or 20 centilitres.
He explained that the restriction was aimed at limiting access to cheap and easily portable alcoholic drinks, particularly among children and young people. He urged manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers and consumers to comply with the regulations and cooperate with authorised enforcement officers.
According to him, enforcement teams are inspecting markets, motor parks, bars, retail outlets, warehouses, factories and other locations where regulated products are manufactured, stored or sold. NAFDAC will also target counterfeit, unregistered, adulterated, substandard, expired or improperly labelled products, as well as facilities operating without the required approvals.
The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, pledged the command’s support for NAFDAC’s lawful enforcement activities, saying both agencies would work within their respective mandates to ensure compliance with the law and protect residents from products and activities that could endanger public health and safety.
Ojajuni added that the police were also enforcing the Liquor Act and other relevant laws governing the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages in Ogun State. He urged stakeholders and residents to comply with existing regulations and provide authorities with credible information on suspected counterfeit or unsafe products and illegal alcohol-related activitie
