In a June 23 courtesy visit to NAFDAC’s Lagos office, Pernod Ricard Nigeria’s leadership reaffirmed its commitment to regulatory compliance, responsible business, and sustainability — and why it matters to every Nigerian who buys a drink.
What Happened — And Why a Drinks Company Visiting a Regulator Is News
It is not every day that a multinational corporation’s leadership team walks into a regulator’s office without being summoned. That alone made Pernod Ricard Nigeria’s June 23 courtesy visit to NAFDAC’s Lagos headquarters noteworthy. The visit was voluntary, proactive, and public — signalling that the company is managing its regulatory relationships as a business priority rather than a legal obligation.
Pernod Ricard Nigeria is the local arm of Pernod Ricard Group, one of the world’s two largest wines and spirits companies. In Nigeria, the company produces and distributes a portfolio spanning Imperial Blue whisky (locally produced), Martell Cognac, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Absolut Vodka, The Glenlivet Scotch Whisky, and Chivas Regal. Its products sit in bars, supermarkets, hotels, and homes across every major Nigerian city.
Counterfeiting is the industry’s most serious threat — and Nigeria’s most serious consumer protection challenge in the drinks sector. Fake versions of premium spirits brands are widely available, particularly in open markets. They pose direct health risks: unregulated alcohol can contain dangerous chemicals, cause blindness, and kill. Every bottle of counterfeit Jameson or fake Absolut sold is both a consumer health risk and a loss to the legitimate economy.
“As a responsible organisation, we recognise the critical role NAFDAC plays in protecting consumers and fostering an enabling environment for business growth. We value our relationship with the Agency and remain committed to supporting its mandate.“
— BODE OMOSAGBA, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, PERNOD RICARD NIGERIA (JUNE 23, 2026)
NAFDAC’s response was equally clear. Dr. Olakunle Olaniran, Director of the Port Inspection Directorate, commended the company’s compliance record and went further — encouraging increased local production and technology transfer as priorities for Nigeria’s industrial development. That nudge toward local manufacturing is significant, and OgasTv returns to it in the observation section below.
The Full Delegation — June 23, 2026
Beyond Compliance — What Pernod Ricard’s Sustainability Agenda Involves
The visit also highlighted two specific initiatives that have direct implications for Nigerian communities and consumers.
What This Story Means for Nigerian Consumers, Workers, and Communities
CONSUMERS
Counterfeiting kills. Fake spirits containing methanol or unregulated ethanol have caused deaths and blindness across Nigeria. NAFDAC-industry partnerships are the frontline defence. When they work, consumers are safer.
WORKERS
Pernod Ricard’s local production of Imperial Blue creates Nigerian manufacturing jobs. Every unit of counterfeit product sold undercuts legitimate businesses and the employment they sustain.
COMMUNITIES
The Glass to Life recycling campaign directly addresses waste — one of the most visible environmental failures in Nigerian communities. If scaled, it can reduce glass waste in markets, roadsides, and waterways.
ECONOMY
NAFDAC’s call for more local production and technology transfer signals something important: Nigeria wants to move from being just a market for imported spirits to a manufacturing hub that adds value domestically.
The Question Behind the Handshake
Corporate visits to regulators are common. Press releases about them are even more common. OgasTv’s role is not to amplify a company’s public relations — it is to extract the civic intelligence embedded in the news and ask the harder questions.
There are two things worth watching from this meeting. First, NAFDAC’s Director specifically encouraged increased local production and technology transfer. This is a regulatory nudge with economic policy significance. Nigeria has for years imported premium spirits that could potentially be produced locally — creating more jobs, reducing foreign exchange pressure, and building industrial capacity. When a regulator signals openness to local manufacturing, responsible businesses should respond with investment plans, not just compliance visits.
Second, the Drink More Water campaign raises a genuine question: is responsible drinking messaging from a company whose revenue depends on selling alcohol substantive public health communication, or is it brand protection? OgasTv does not dismiss it outright — Pernod Ricard’s global responsible hosting framework is more developed than most industry actors. But Nigerian consumers deserve transparency about how much is invested in these campaigns versus product marketing, and what measurable health outcomes are being tracked.
The collaboration with NAFDAC is a positive development. The real test is whether it produces measurable results — fewer counterfeits seized at Lagos ports, fewer deaths from fake alcohol, more locally manufactured products on Nigerian shelves. Those outcomes, not the courtesy visit, are the story OgasTv will return to.
What This Should Produce — If the Partnership Is Real
- NAFDACPublish quarterly data on counterfeiting seizures at Lagos and Apapa ports — by product category, volume, and origin. Citizens cannot verify progress without numbers.
- INDUSTRYPernod Ricard and other premium spirits companies should invest in consumer-facing authentication tools — QR codes, holographic seals, or SMS verification — that allow any Nigerian to confirm a bottle is genuine before buying.
- LOCAL PRODUCTIONFollowing NAFDAC’s encouragement, Pernod Ricard should publish a clear roadmap for expanding local Nigerian manufacturing beyond Imperial Blue — with timelines, job creation targets, and technology transfer commitments.
- RECYCLINGThe Glass to Life campaign should establish community bottle collection points in major markets — Oshodi, Mile 12, Onitsha, Ariaria — where the glass waste problem is most acute. Partner with local government waste management units to make it sustainable.
- CITIZENSIf you suspect a product is counterfeit, report it to NAFDAC’s toll-free line: 0800-162-3322. You can also send a WhatsApp message with a photo to NAFDAC’s official channels. Consumer reporting is one of the most effective anti-counterfeiting tools available.
- GOVERNMENTThe National Assembly should strengthen penalties for counterfeiting of food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals — and give NAFDAC the budget to pursue prosecutions, not just seizures.
What You Can Do as a Consumer
Have you ever knowingly or unknowingly bought a counterfeit food or drink product in Nigeria — and what happened when you realised it?
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What OgasTv Verified
- Pernod Ricard Nigeria — Official Press Release: “Pernod Ricard Nigeria Deepens Collaboration with NAFDAC to Strengthen Consumer Protection” (June 23, 2026)
- NAFDAC Official Website — nafdac.gov.ng — Port Inspection Directorate mandate and structure
- Pernod Ricard Group — Corporate Website — Sustainability framework and brand portfolio
- NAFDAC Consumer Reporting Hotline — 0800-162-3322 (toll-free)
