The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has clarified that it has not shut down any alcohol producing company while enforcing the ban on alcoholic drinks in sachets and small containers below 200 millilitres.
The agency said the enforcement, backed by a recent Senate resolution and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is aimed at protecting public health, especially children, adolescents and young adults, from harmful alcohol use.
NAFDAC Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, explained that the action targets only alcohol packaged in sachets and containers smaller than 200ml, not manufacturers themselves. “NAFDAC did not close down any company that makes alcohol. The agency only bans alcohol in sachets and small containers less than 200ml,” she said.
She stressed that the policy is a public health intervention, not a punishment. “This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth by not allowing alcohol in small pack sizes,” she added.
Adeyeye said the decision is based on scientific evidence and public health data, noting that the country cannot continue to trade citizens’ wellbeing for economic benefits. According to her, the health of the population is a nation’s real wealth.
She noted that the easy access to strong alcoholic drinks in sachets and small bottles has fuelled alcohol misuse among minors and some commercial drivers. This trend, she said, has been linked to rising cases of domestic violence, road crashes, school dropouts and other social problems in many communities.
The NAFDAC boss explained that simply labelling such products as “not for children” is ineffective in Nigeria’s context. She argued that many parents are unaware their children consume alcohol in sachets because the packs are cheap, easy to hide and difficult to monitor.
Adeyeye recalled that producers were given several years to adjust. In December 2018, NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission signed a five year agreement with manufacturers’ groups to phase out sachet and small volume alcohol packaging by January 31, 2024.
The grace period was later extended to December 2025 to allow companies to clear existing stock and reconfigure their production lines. She said this long moratorium shows that the industry had ample time to prepare.
Adeyeye added that the Senate resolution aligns with Nigeria’s commitments under the World Health Assembly’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol. She said the ban on sachets and PET bottles below 200ml is meant to make it harder for children to access alcohol.
She stressed that NAFDAC still approves alcohol in larger pack sizes. The problem, she said, is that the small packs make it too easy for underage users to buy and conceal alcohol from parents and teachers.
The DG emphasised that the regulation applies only to sachets and containers under 200ml and urged manufacturers, distributors and retailers to fully comply. She ruled out any further extension beyond December 2025 and said NAFDAC will continue public sensitisation in partnership with relevant agencies.
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