The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately halt all enforcement actions against sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products.
The decision, issued jointly by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), cites concerns over potential economic instability and security risks.
Both offices warned that continued enforcement, in the absence of a fully operational National Alcohol Policy, could destabilize communities, exacerbate unemployment, and trigger avoidable security challenges.
In a statement released by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, the government clarified that while the National Alcohol Policy has been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health under President Bola Tinubu, NAFDAC must refrain from sealing factories or warehouses until the policy is fully implemented.
The OSGF and ONSA stressed that the current “de facto banning” of these products without a harmonized framework is already causing significant disruptions.
“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 warned.
The directive also cited correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control, dated November 13, 2025. Signed by Deputy Chairman Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, the letter referenced National Assembly resolutions cautioning against the proposed ban.
Reaffirming a previous suspension issued in December 2025, the OSGF emphasized that all enforcement actions related to sachet alcohol must be suspended pending the final implementation of the National Alcohol Policy.
“Accordingly, all actions, decisions, or enforcement measures relating to the ongoing ban on sachet alcohol are to be suspended pending the final consultations and implementation of the National Alcohol Policy and the issuance of a final directive,” the statement added.
The government also declared any unauthorized NAFDAC actions as “invalid,” urging the public and industry stakeholders to disregard enforcement measures not approved by the OSGF.
Authorities assured Nigerians that a “final, balanced, and lawful decision” would be communicated in due course, prioritizing public health alongside national security and economic stability.
