Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately suspend all enforcement actions relating to the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products.
The directive followed a joint intervention by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which raised concerns about potential economic instability and emerging security risks.
In a statement signed by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, the government warned that continued enforcement — particularly in the absence of a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy — could destabilize communities, worsen unemployment, and create avoidable security challenges.
While confirming that the National Alcohol Policy has been approved by the Federal Ministry of Health under the direction of President Bola Tinubu, the statement instructed NAFDAC to refrain from sealing factories, warehouses, or enforcing what it described as a “de facto ban” until the policy is fully operationalized.
“The continued sealing of warehouses and de facto banning of sachet alcohol products is already creating economic disruptions and poses a growing security threat, particularly given the impact on employment, supply chains, and informal distribution networks across the country,” the statement noted.
The decision was also influenced by correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control, dated November 13, 2025. The letter, signed by Deputy Chairman Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, referenced existing National Assembly resolutions cautioning against the implementation of the proposed ban without broader consultations.
Reaffirming a prior suspension issued in December 2025, the Federal Government stressed the need to carefully review legislative, public health, and economic considerations before reaching a final decision.
“Accordingly, all actions, decisions, or enforcement measures relating to the ongoing ban on sachet alcohol are to be suspended pending final consultations and implementation of the National Alcohol Policy, as well as the issuance of a definitive directive,” the statement concluded.
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