The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has said alcohol consumption contributes to banditry and poses serious risks to vital organs in the human body.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, stated this on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television monitored by The News Chronicle.
Adeyeye said alcohol was harmful to organs such as the kidneys and liver, stressing the need for measures to curb its availability and consumption.
She also defended the agency’s ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate bottles below 200ml, saying the decision was taken in the interest of public health and the future of Nigerian children.
According to her, the sale of alcohol in sachets and PET bottles was approved several decades ago but later became difficult to control.
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She said the situation prompted NAFDAC to enforce the ban on alcoholic drinks packaged in containers of less than 200ml.
“Alcohol encourages banditry, destroys the kidneys and liver. Although the ban on the sale of alcohol in sachets and PET bottles of less than 200ml did not sit well with some people, Nigerians are concerned about the future of their children,” Adeyeye said.
The NAFDAC boss acknowledged that the ban had faced opposition from some Nigerians but maintained that protecting public health, particularly the wellbeing of children and young people, remained a priority.
