The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally announced a comprehensive ban on the production, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles smaller than 200 milliliters. This decisive action, aimed at curbing alcohol abuse and safeguarding public health, will see full enforcement commence by January 1, 2026. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is tasked with overseeing the implementation of this ban, reinforcing its statutory mandate to protect the nation's well-being.

Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, emphasized at a press briefing in Abuja that the decision stems from a resolution by the Nigerian Senate and a directive from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The primary objective is to shield vulnerable populations, particularly children, teenagers, and young adults, from the detrimental effects of easily accessible and cheap alcohol. Prof. Adeyeye articulated that alcohol in sachets and small bottles is inexpensive, easy to conceal, and consequently encourages misuse, especially among minors and commercial drivers. She warned that the unregulated proliferation of such alcohol contributes significantly to escalating cases of road accidents, domestic violence, school dropouts, and other pressing social problems, even posing a national security threat due to its link to drug intake and crime among youths.

To bolster its regulatory and enforcement capabilities, NAFDAC has received approval from the Federal Government to recruit an additional 1,000 staff members, with recruitment commencing in December. This expansion of its workforce is critical for ensuring effective monitoring and compliance across the nation.

Clarifying the scope of the new regulation, Prof. Adeyeye stated that the ban specifically targets spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200ml. It does not apply to all alcoholic beverages, ensuring a focused approach on the most problematic forms of packaging associated with misuse. She reiterated that the measure is protective rather than punitive, asserting, “We cannot trade public health for short-term economic benefits. The health of a nation is its true wealth.”

This current enforcement aligns with a prior agreement between NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) with industry stakeholders, including the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in December 2018 initially set a phase-out deadline for January 31, 2024, which was subsequently extended to December 2025 to allow producers ample time to exhaust existing stock and reconfigure their production lines. The Senate's resolution reinforces this long-standing commitment and aligns Nigeria with the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol.

Prof. Adeyeye urged all stakeholders—manufacturers, distributors, and retailers—to fully comply with the phase-out deadline, unequivocally stating that no further extensions will be granted beyond December 2025. Furthermore, NAFDAC will collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the FCCPC, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to implement nationwide sensitization campaigns, raising public awareness about the health and social dangers linked to alcohol misuse.