FG Suspends Sachet Alcohol Ban, Directs NAFDAC to Halt Enforcement Amid Economic and Security Concerns

The Federal Government has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately suspend all enforcement actions related to the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products.

A joint intervention by the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the National Security Adviser (ONSA) cited serious economic and security risks as the reasons for the directive. The statement warned that continued enforcement, without a fully operational National Alcohol Policy, could destabilize communities, worsen unemployment, and create avoidable security challenges.

The policy, signed by the Federal Ministry of Health under the direction of President Bola Tinubu, has yet to be fully implemented. Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, stressed that NAFDAC must refrain from sealing factories or warehouses until the policy is operational.

“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 added.

The decision was influenced by a November 13, 2025 letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control, which cautioned against the ban. Deputy Chairman Uchenna Harris Okonkwo highlighted existing National Assembly resolutions emphasizing legislative and public health considerations.

The government reaffirmed a previous suspension issued in December 2025, stressing the need for careful review of economic, health, and legislative factors before a final policy is enforced.

“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 concluded.