The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced that it will commence full enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles below 200ml by December 2025.
NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth,” Prof. Adeyeye said, emphasizing that no extension will be granted beyond the December 2025 deadline.
She explained that the proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers has made such products easily accessible, affordable, and concealable—factors that have contributed to misuse and addiction, especially among minors and commercial drivers.
According to her, the decision is “rooted in scientific evidence and public health considerations,” despite pushback from some industry stakeholders.
“We cannot continue to sacrifice the well-being of Nigerians for short-term economic gain. The health of a nation is its true wealth,” she stated.
Prof. Adeyeye further linked the unchecked availability of these products to rising cases of domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social vices in communities across the country.
The NAFDAC chief noted that the directive follows a resolution by the Senate, which raised concerns about the ease of access minors have to cheap alcoholic sachets and the broader social implications.
In December 2018, NAFDAC signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and key industry associations including the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN). The agreement outlined a phased plan to end the production of sachet and small-bottle alcoholic beverages by January 2024.
The move initially sparked protests from DIBAN at NAFDAC’s Lagos office, with manufacturers warning that the policy could result in massive job losses and calling for a review. In response, NAFDAC extended the moratorium to December 2025, allowing producers time to deplete existing stock and modify their production processes.
However, the agency has now reaffirmed that the December 2025 deadline is final, with no further extensions to be considered.
NAFDAC has urged all manufacturers and retailers to comply fully with the directive. To ensure enforcement, the agency said it will collaborate with security agencies starting January 2026.
