The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has resumed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles below 200 millilitres, as part of efforts to curb alcohol abuse and protect public health.
The agency clarified that the action does not involve the shutdown of any alcohol-producing company, stressing that the restriction applies strictly to spirit drinks packaged in sachets and in PET or glass bottles below 200ml, while products in larger volumes remain approved for production and sale in Nigeria.
The enforcement, announced on Thursday, is being carried out nationwide in line with a resolution of the Senate and NAFDAC’s public health mandate, with the support of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, particularly among children, adolescents, and young adults.
NAFDAC said the widespread availability, low cost, and ease of concealment of alcohol in sachets and small containers have contributed significantly to underage drinking, misuse, addiction, and related social problems, including road accidents, school dropouts, and other social vices.
The agency recalled that in December 2018, it entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with industry stakeholders to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol packaging by January 31, 2024.
The moratorium was later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers exhaust existing stock and reconfigure production lines, adding that the current enforcement aligns with that agreement and Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Assembly Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol.
Speaking on the development, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the ban is protective rather than punitive, noting that it is designed to safeguard children and young people from easy access to alcohol and its long-term health consequences.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. The health of Nigerians, especially the younger population, must take priority,” she said, urging all stakeholders to comply fully, while stressing that no further extensions beyond December 2025 would be granted.
