The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control () has resumed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small plastic or glass bottles below 200 millilitres, reigniting debate with manufacturers and other industry stakeholders who oppose the policy.
NAFDAC clarified that the renewed enforcement does not involve shutting down alcohol-producing companies, stressing that the action is strictly targeted at prohibiting the sale of alcohol in sachets and small-volume containers, which the agency says pose significant public health risks, particularly to young people.
In a statement issued by the agency, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, said the move was aimed at protecting children, adolescents and young adults from the harmful use of alcohol.
“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has resumed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200 ml, in line with a resolution of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the agency’s public health mandate,” Adeyeye said.
She disclosed that reports from schools across the country have highlighted worrying trends in alcohol consumption among students.
Adeyeye cited a recent case in which a teacher reported that a student claimed he could not sit for an examination without first consuming sachet alcohol, describing the incident as a disturbing indication of growing alcohol dependence among minors.
The NAFDAC chief recalled that in December 2018, the agency, working alongside the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with alcohol manufacturers. The agreement was designed to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol packaging by January 31, 2024.
According to her, the initial deadline was later extended to December 2025 to give manufacturers sufficient time to exhaust existing stock and reconfigure their production processes.
Adeyeye explained that the current Senate resolution backing enforcement of the ban is consistent with both the original agreement and Nigeria’s international commitments.
“The current Senate resolution aligns with the spirit and letter of that agreement and with Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Assembly Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol,” she said.
She emphasised that the enforcement exercise is not intended to penalise manufacturers, but rather to safeguard public health and reduce easy access to alcohol, especially among vulnerable groups.
Despite the clarification, manufacturers and other stakeholders in the alcohol sector have continued to resist the ban, raising concerns about its potential economic impact, including job losses and disruptions to distribution networks.
NAFDAC, however, maintains that public health considerations must take precedence, noting that further engagement with stakeholders will continue even as enforcement of the ban is implemented nationwide.