The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has warned that the Federal Government’s suspension of the ban on sachet and small-volume alcohol undermines national public health goals.
ACPN National Chairman Ambrose Ezeh described the policy reversal as “a troubling setback for public health regulation in the country,” in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
The move follows a February 11 directive instructing the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to halt enforcement of the proposed ban, including the sealing of factories and warehouses. The suspension, issued by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), reportedly arose from security concerns highlighted by the SGF’s Office and the National Security Adviser.
Ezeh, however, stressed that the original NAFDAC directive was grounded in evidence-based harm-reduction principles and child-protection priorities. Its suspension, he said, raises questions about regulatory consistency and governance priorities.
He recalled that in December 2018, NAFDAC, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) signed a five-year agreement with industry operators to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol by January 31, 2024—later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers to adjust production systems without disruption.
Ezeh highlighted the persistent public health risks associated with alcohol misuse in Nigeria. “Alcohol misuse accounts for about 29% of preventable deaths and nearly half of road traffic accidents. More than 60,000 deaths in 2016 alone were linked to alcohol-related causes, including liver disease, alcohol-induced cancers, and fatal crashes,” he said.
He singled out sachet alcohol as particularly dangerous due to its affordability, portability, and concealment, making it accessible to minors. Studies show that young people often independently procure alcohol in sachets and bottles under 200ml, bypassing age restrictions.
Ezeh criticized industry lobbying that reframed the debate around affordability rather than public health, calling it a “distressing erosion of corporate social responsibility.” He argued that long-term social and economic costs of alcohol misuse far outweigh temporary commercial gains.
“The prohibition of sachet alcohol is not symbolic. It is a substantive policy statement that Nigeria will not trade the health and future of its children for short-term profits,” he said. Ezeh emphasized that any policy review must prioritize child safety, regulatory integrity, and evidence-based prevention.
He further warned that relying solely on warning labels and age restrictions without controlling supply reduces compliance to a “hollow exercise,” noting broader enforcement weaknesses in tackling open markets for substandard and counterfeit products.
“Nigeria now stands at a critical policy crossroads. When the choice lies between safeguarding public health and preserving profit margins, the ethical calculus should be unequivocal. Protecting children and strengthening regulatory governance must remain paramount,” Ezeh concluded.
