The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has fully resumed the enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small-volume PET and glass bottles below 200ml citing that the directive is strictly rooted in scientific evidence and overriding public health considerations, rather than being a punitive economic measure.
Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, described the enforcement as a critical protective step necessary to save the future of Nigeria’s youth.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth by not allowing alcohol in small pack sizes. The decision is rooted in scientific evidence and public health considerations. We cannot continue to sacrifice the wellbeing of Nigerians for economic gain. The health of a nation is its true wealth,” Prof. Adeyeye stated.
The enforcement follows a directive from the Nigerian Senate, backed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
NAFDAC cited compelling data linking the proliferation of these small, affordable, and easily concealable alcohol units to a spike in addiction among minors and commercial drivers.
The Agency noted that the small packaging has been directly correlated with increased incidences of domestic violence, road accidents, and school dropouts.
NAFDAC argued that regulatory alternatives, such as placing not for children labels on sachets, have scientifically proven to be ineffective in the Nigerian context.
The Agency highlighted reports from schools where students were found concealing sachet alcohol to consume before exams, a trend facilitated by the discreet nature of the packaging.
Clarifying the scope of the enforcement, NAFDAC stated that no alcohol manufacturing companies have been closed down. The regulatory action is restricted solely to the packaging format; the production of alcohol in larger bottles remains approved.
The move marks the culmination of a long-term regulatory plan. In 2018, NAFDAC and the Federal Ministry of Health signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with industry associations, including the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN).
This agreement provided a moratorium to phase out these package sizes, which was extended to December 2025 to allow producers to reconfigure their lines and exhaust stock.
With the expiration of the December 2025 deadline, NAFDAC has declared that no further extensions will be entertained. The policy aligns Nigeria with the World Health Assembly’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol, ensuring the nation meets its international health commitments.
The Agency has pledged to continue nationwide sensitization campaigns in collaboration with the FCCPC and the National Orientation Agency to curb alcohol misuse.
