FG orders NAFDAC to suspend sachet alcohol ban
The Federal Government has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to suspend enforcement of its planned ban on sachet alcohol and small-bottle alcoholic beverages, a move that has stirred debate across regulatory, economic and public health circles.
Officials said the directive, issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), halts all actions and enforcement measures relating to the ban until further consultations are concluded and a final decision is communicated.
The government’s order that FG orders NAFDAC to suspend sachet alcohol ban followed concerns raised by the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control over the agency’s planned enforcement.
In a statement by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, the directive — released on Wednesday in Abuja — said the matter is “under review” and should be handled through comprehensive consultations. The statement referenced a correspondence dated November 13, 2025, signed by the deputy chairman of the House committee, Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, which drew attention to existing National Assembly resolutions on the proposed ban.
Under the government’s directive, all enforcement actions earlier planned by NAFDAC — including factory shutdowns, sealing of warehouses and any punitive enforcement measures — are to be suspended until the conclusion of policy consultations and a final directive is issued.
“Any action or enforcement undertaken by NAFDAC or any other agency on this matter without due clearance and resolution by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is of no effect and should be disregarded by the public,” the statement said.
The move comes against a backdrop of disagreement over how and when a ban on the production, distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets or bottles smaller than 200 millilitres should be implemented. NAFDAC had announced that enforcement would begin as early as December 2025, saying the measure was intended to address misuse of cheap sachet alcohol among youths and drivers, FG orders NAFDAC to suspend sachet alcohol ban.
However, the government’s order that FG orders NAFDAC to suspend sachet alcohol ban highlights growing concerns about the economic and social impact of the ban, particularly on jobs, supply chains and informal retail networks that depend on the sachet segment of the alcoholic beverage market.
Officials said the SGF’s office is reviewing legislative resolutions, public health considerations, economic implications and broader national interest factors before reaching a final position on how the ban should be pursued, FG orders NAFDAC to suspend sachet alcohol ban.
Economic groups and industry stakeholders have been among the most vocal critics of NAFDAC’s proposed enforcement. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the government to halt the ban, warning that it threatens jobs, government revenue and the survival of local producers after repeated directives have created confusion.
MAN’s Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said NAFDAC’s enforcement measures were disrupting businesses and contradicting earlier government directives that had suspended the ban pending broader consultations. He argued that the decision to ban production and sale of sachet and small PET-bottle alcoholic drinks undermined both investment and consumer choice, especially among low-income adult consumers, FG orders NAFDAC to suspend sachet alcohol ban.
Labour unions and trade groups have similarly warned that a ban on sachet alcohol could have damaging consequences for employment and industrial stability. A protest in Lagos by distillers, blenders and workers expressed fears that millions of jobs were at risk if the ban were implemented without a coordinated policy framework.
Public health advocates, meanwhile, have consistently defended the rationale behind the ban, saying that widespread availability of cheap sachet alcohol has contributed to underage drinking, alcohol abuse and associated social problems. NAFDAC officials have asserted that regulating small-pack alcoholic beverages was aimed at protecting children and young people.
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Despite these arguments, the government’s order that FG orders NAFDAC to suspend sachet alcohol ban underscores the need for a harmonised policy approach. The OSGF said stakeholders, including lawmakers, regulators and public health experts, must reach a consensus before enforcement actions proceed.
The socio-economic rights group Socio‑Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has also taken legal steps, urging the Federal High Court in Lagos to restrain federal authorities from further extending the moratorium on the ban. SERAP argued that delays in enforcement amount to a failure to implement public health regulations designed to curb alcohol abuse, protect public safety and safeguard citizens’ well-being.
At the same time, some lawmakers have insisted that NAFDAC should enforce the ban as part of public health commitments, even as others support a moratorium pending broader consultations. The Senate has previously backed an actionable ban on sachet alcohol packaging by December 2025, urging regulators to follow through on phasing out production of such products.
Analysts say the government’s directive to suspend enforcement reflects the complexity of balancing public health goals with economic interests and national stability. The sachet alcohol sector accounts for significant investment and employment, and sudden disruption could have broader social and economic effects if not managed carefully, industry observers say, FG orders NAFDAC to suspend sachet alcohol ban.
As the government reviews inputs from across sectors, the public remains attentive to how the issue will be resolved. The directive that FG orders NAFDAC to suspend sachet alcohol ban demonstrates the challenges in formulating policies that intersect health, economics and regulatory authority in a multi-stakeholder environment.
For now, enforcement remains on hold, and Nigerians await a definitive policy position that reconciles concerns raised by lawmakers, industry, health experts and civil society groups.
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FG orders NAFDAC to suspend sachet alcohol ban.
