On February 1, 2024, NAFDAC started the enforcement of a ban on alcohol sold in sachet or in less than 200ml PET Bottle, after a five -year moratorium that the then Honourable Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Folorunsho Adewole gave the manufacturers to phase out the two package types. This moratorium document was signed in December 2018 by the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) and the Association of Food Beverage & Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) with Ministry of Health, NAFDAC and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Soon after the enforcement of the ban, which came five years after all parties had signed the agreement on the moratorium, the House Committee on Food and Drug Administration advised that the Agency should suspend the ban. It was made known at the time, however, that the Agency would have to await a decision by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on the matter since the Agency was essentially enforcing a ministerial document.
On Thursday, June 13, 2024, the Speaker of the House of Representatives called for a meeting with the Director General (NAFDAC) at the Speaker’s Office. The Speaker was represented by the Chief of Staff, Prof Jake Dan-Azumi. Present at the meeting were the Chair of the House Committee on Food and Drug Administration, Honourable Mrs. Regina Akume, the Deputy Chair of the House Committee on Food and Drug Administration. Honourable Uche Okonkwo, Honourable Chinedu Ogah, and Honourable Philip Agbese. Also present at the meeting was NAFDAC’s Director of FCT, Mr. Abdulsalam Ozigis.
The Agency was again advised to suspend the ban, and I responded by saying that it is a Ministerial Directive, and that I had not received any directive by the Coordinating Minister to suspend the ban. The Speaker’s representative at the meeting, Prof Dan-Azumi and the Committee Chair, Honourable Mrs. Akume then said that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare should write a memo to the Speaker and House Committee. Prof Dan-Azumi said that the discussion will continue in July after the House returns from recess.
Following the meeting, I reported the above outcome from the meeting to both the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate and the Coordinating Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa
BAN ON CODEINE
On May 1st, 2018, the then Minister of Health Prof Isaac Folorunsho Adewole placed a ban on codeine syrup because of a documentary by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on poor distribution and abuse.
Codeine-containing syrup remain banned since that time. In fact, the Federal Government compensated the manufacturers of the syrup that did not abuse the distribution. NAFDAC has never discussed the removal of the ban
The statement in the News Media that another Minister removed the ban is INACCURATE and FALSE
NAFDAC………safeguarding the health of the Nation.
Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, FAS
Director General/CEO
