The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reaffirmed its readiness to enforce a total ban on the production and sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets and small plastic or glass bottles below 200ml by December 2025.
The agency said the move was in strict compliance with the directive of the Nigerian Senate and in line with its statutory duty to protect public health, especially among young people and other vulnerable groups.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, made this known while speaking on Tuesday, during General’s Press Conference and the launch of NAFDAC Health and Regulatory Initiatives.
She described the decision as part of a long-standing commitment to curb the growing abuse of cheap, high-alcohol-content beverages in Nigeria.
Prof. Adeyeye said the ban — which is fully backed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare — became necessary following the rising cases of alcohol misuse among minors, commercial drivers, and low-income earners.
According to her, the proliferation of sachet and small-volume alcoholic drinks has made it easier for underage consumers to access and conceal alcohol, fueling addiction, domestic violence, accidents, school dropouts, and other social ills across communities.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective,” the NAFDAC DG said. “It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth. 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.”
NAFDAC recalled that in December 2018, it signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and industry associations—including the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN)—to phase out sachet and small-bottle alcoholic packaging by January 2024.
However, the agency said the moratorium was extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers to exhaust old stock and adjust their production lines.
Prof. Adeyeye stressed that the Senate’s recent resolution reinforces that earlier agreement and reflects Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (WHA63.13, 2010).
The NAFDAC boss warned that no further extension will be granted after the December 2025 deadline, urging manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to comply fully with the policy.
She explained that the ban applies strictly to spirit drinks packaged in sachets and bottles below 200ml, and not to all alcoholic products.
NAFDAC said it will continue to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health, FCCPC, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to conduct nationwide sensitization on the dangers of alcohol abuse.
She reaffirmed that the agency’s resolve to ensure that only safe, wholesome, and properly regulated products are available to Nigerians.
