Edo State Consumer Protection Committee for Tuesday don start enforcement of the ban on sachet gin and other affected alcoholic drinks, as dem seize plenty products during operation for major areas inside Benin City.
Di enforcement exercise, wey the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture lead, cover Mission Road, Ekiosa Market and St. Saviour axis for the city.
Di operation na part of the ongoing nationwide enforcement of ban on alcoholic drinks wey dem dey sell for sachet and small PET bottles wey no reach 200ml, as National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC direct. The agency bin announce the ban because of public health concerns, underage drinking, and how easy e be for small children and drivers to buy high-alcohol drinks.
During di enforcement for Benin City, Edo CPC team enter several shops, supermarkets and open markets where dem dey openly display and sell sachet gin and other banned alcoholic products. Dem seize large quantities of di products and carry them go their custody, while dem still warn shop owners about the dangers of selling the banned products and the punishment wey fit follow if dem disobey the directive.
While e dey talk during the exercise, Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture talk say the enforcement no be to punish traders, but to protect lives and health of Edo people. E explain say sachet gin and other small-pack alcoholic drinks don become major cause of alcohol abuse among young people, wey dey lead to addiction, health complications and social vices. E warn say any trader wey dem still catch dey sell the banned products after this sensitization go face sanction according to consumer protection laws.
For one shocking twist during the same operation, the committee also see bags of beans wey dem suspect say dem preserve with insecticide chemicals for Ekiosa Market. Dem discover am when the team notice unusual smell and colour for some of the beans wey dem display for sale. When dem ask, dem suspect say dem use harmful insecticides like Sniper take preserve the beans to prevent weevils and make am last longer, which na practice wey dey very dangerous to health.
Mr. Iyamu express serious concern over the development, as e describe am as dangerous to public health. E talk say to chop beans wey dem put insecticide fit lead to food poisoning, organ damage and even death, and e beg traders to stop such harmful practice because of profit. E assure say dem go carry samples of the suspected beans go laboratory for further analysis while investigation dey continue.
The Chairman talk again say Edo State Consumer Protection Committee go continue to monitor markets across the state to ensure say goods wey dem dey sell to public dey safe and good for consumption. E call on consumers to shine their eyes and report any suspicious products or harmful market practices to the committee for quick action.
The enforcement exercise na wetin some consumers for the markets welcome well, as dem hail the committee for taking proactive steps to protect public health. But dem still beg government to do more awareness and provide affordable preservation alternatives for traders so that dem no go dey use dangerous chemicals.
With the commencement of the enforcement, Edo State don now join other states across the country to implement the ban on sachet gin, as authorities dey intensify efforts to promote responsible consumption and protect public health.