The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it did not shut down any alcohol-producing company while enforcing the ban on alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and containers below 200 millilitres.
The agency said it introduced the enforcement to protect public health, especially children, adolescents and young adults. The move follows a recent Senate resolution and has the backing of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the policy focuses strictly on alcohol packaging sizes.
“NAFDAC did not close down any company that makes alcohol. We only banned alcohol in sachets and containers smaller than 200ml,” she said.
Adeyeye stressed that the action does not target manufacturers or distributors operating within approved standards.
The NAFDAC boss described the ban as a preventive public health measure. “This ban is not punitive. It is protective. We want to safeguard the health and future of our children and youth,” she said.
She added that scientific evidence supports the policy and warned against prioritising economic gains over public health.
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Adeyeye said easy access to sachet alcohol has increased misuse among minors and some commercial drivers.
She linked the trend to rising cases of domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts and other social vices across communities.
The Director-General dismissed calls for warning labels as a solution. “A ‘not for children’ label will not work. Parents often do not know their children consume sachet alcohol because it is cheap and easy to conceal,” she said.
Adeyeye recalled that regulators gave manufacturers ample time to adjust.
In December 2018, NAFDAC, the Ministry of Health and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission signed a five-year MoU with industry groups. The agreement required companies to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol packaging.
Regulators later extended the deadline to December 2025 to allow manufacturers clear old stock and reconfigure production lines.
No Further Extension After 2025
Adeyeye said the Senate-backed enforcement aligns with Nigeria’s commitments under the World Health Assembly’s global alcohol harm reduction strategy.
She confirmed that NAFDAC approves alcohol in larger pack sizes but will not allow sachets or containers below 200ml.
The agency, she added, will grant no further extensions beyond December 2025 and will continue public sensitisation nationwide.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
