The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has officially launched a joint nationwide campaign to enforce the Federal Government’s ban on sachet alcoholic drinks and alcohol packaged in PET or glass bottles below 200 millilitres.
The campaign, flagged off at NOA Headquarters in Abuja, is being implemented in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), with NOA serving as the lead agency for public sensitisation and behavioural change.
The Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, described the initiative as a decisive national intervention aimed at safeguarding the health, safety, and future of Nigerians, particularly young people most vulnerable to the dangers of cheap and easily accessible alcohol.
The Federal Government, through NAFDAC, prohibited the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and in PET or glass bottles smaller than 200ml, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The measure aims to reduce underage access to high-concentration alcohol and curb harmful consumption patterns across communities.
Issa-Onilu emphasised that the enforcement action did not come abruptly, noting that the government had engaged stakeholders for eight years to adjust practices harmful to national wellbeing.
“They are not demonstrating against the Government of Nigeria; they are demonstrating against the Nigerian people, against you in the media, against your children and our children. This is about public protection,” he said, stressing the critical role of the media in advancing the objectives of the campaign.
He further clarified that the initiative extends beyond three institutions. “It is not just NAFDAC, FCCPC, and NOA. It is NAFDAC, FCCPC, NOA — and the Media.
You listen, you report, and you shape public understanding. We may not invite the media to deliver speeches, but you are partners in safeguarding the nation,” the Director-General added.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, highlighted findings from a 2021 national survey on underage drinking, revealing that over 54 percent of minors and underaged persons purchase alcohol themselves, with nearly half accessing it through sachets and small PET bottles.
The survey also indicated significant daily and weekly consumption among underaged persons, underscoring the urgency of regulatory intervention.
The FCCPC reaffirmed its commitment to ensure strict compliance, emphasising that consumer protection remains central to national interest.
As the lead agency for nationwide sensitisation, NOA will deploy its 818 offices across the 774 Local Government Areas to drive grassroots awareness.
Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers will engage youth groups, market associations, transport unions, schools, faith-based institutions, and community leaders through town hall meetings, market outreaches, and multilingual advocacy.
The Agency will further reinforce the campaign through sustained media engagement, digital platforms, and the NOA CLHEEAN App, enabling citizens to report violations and support enforcement efforts.
The National Orientation Agency calls on parents, guardians, community leaders, retailers, distributors, and all citizens to support the ban and prioritise the wellbeing of Nigeria’s youth.
Through awareness, compliance, and collective vigilance, NOA, in collaboration with NAFDAC and FCCPC, remains committed to building a healthier, safer, and more responsible nation.
