Following a five-year embargo, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control reported great success in 2024 in enforcing Edo State’s alcohol ban.
Esther Itua, the agency’s Edo coordinator, said this in Benin City on Wednesday. Speaking about the agency’s accomplishments in the state in 2024, Ms. Itua stated that the prohibition on unregistered products was successfully implemented.
She said, “We started the enforcement of the ban on February 1, 2024, and it’s been a game-changer. We sent letters to major supermarkets and outlets, instructing them to stop displaying unregistered products.”
According to her, the response has been impressive with many local manufacturers coming forward to register their products.
She mentioned that the regulatory agency made the process easier and more affordable for small and medium scale enterprises in the state.
“We made the registration process easier and more affordable, with a fee of just N37,000. We also prioritised MSMEs products in our laboratory testing, ensuring faster turnaround times,” she said.
Ms Itua acknowledged that there were still challenges to overcome, especially on information sharing.
She stated, “One of the major hurdles we face is lack of information from the public. We need consumers to report suspicious products and practices, so we can take action.’’
Ms Itua said that the goal of NAFDAC was to ensure that products sold in Edo State were safe, effective, and of good quality.
