The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confirmed that the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and bottles smaller than 200 millilitres will be completely banned by December 2025.
The agency’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, describing the move as a public health intervention to curb alcohol misuse among youths and drivers.
“The proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers has made such products easily accessible, affordable, and concealable, leading to widespread misuse and addiction among minors and commercial drivers,” Adeyeye said.
She warned that the abuse of cheap alcoholic drinks had been linked to domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social vices, stressing that “this ban is not punitive; it is protective.”
Adeyeye clarified that the directive followed the Senate’s resolution mandating the agency to enforce the total ban by December 2025 — with no further extensions.
The resolution was sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), who accused manufacturers of lobbying for continuous postponements since NAFDAC’s first deadline in 2023.
“Any further delay would betray public trust and undermine Nigeria’s commitment to international health and safety standards,” Ekpenyong warned during plenary.
NAFDAC, according to Adeyeye, had earlier signed an MoU with industry stakeholders to ensure a phased withdrawal of the products but said the Senate’s new directive is final.
She urged manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to begin full compliance before the enforcement date, emphasising that the health of Nigerians must not be sacrificed for economic gain.
“The decision is rooted in scientific evidence and public health considerations. We cannot continue to sacrifice the well-being of Nigerians for short-term economic gain. The health of a nation is its true wealth,” she stated.
