The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Directorate, has intercepted contraband alcoholic products in Wuse Market, Abuja.

The FCT Director of the agency, Mr Kenneth Azikiwe, who made this disclosure on Thursday, said the manufacturing and distribution of alcoholic beverages in satchet and PET bottles remain banned.

According to him, several sachets of alcohol and in small bottles, including 30ml and 100ml packs, were discovered and confiscated.

The director urged distributors and retailers to desist from the sale and distribution of the banned products, urging them to return any remaining stock to NAFDAC.

“We want to appeal to manufacturers to respect the ministerial ban and the agreement signed by the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria in 2018 with NAFDAC.

“The Association of Food, Tobacco, Beverage Employers, and the Federal Competition Consumer Protection Council, were also part of the agreement,” he stated.

He explained that the agreement, which introduced phased withdrawal process, has reached final level of ensuring complete removal of the banned products from markets.

He further noted that enlightenment campaigns and stakeholder engagements had been conducted over the years to ensure compliance with the ban.

He added that it is disheartening that some manufacturers and distributors claim ignorance of the ban, in spite of extensive public awareness.