The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced its readiness to fully implement a nationwide ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles below 200ml by December 2025.
According to NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, the enforcement aligns with the Nigerian Senate’s directive and the agency’s statutory responsibility to safeguard public health, particularly among young people and other vulnerable groups.
Speaking at a press briefing and the launch of NAFDAC Health and Regulatory Initiatives, Prof. Adeyeye described the decision as a vital public health measure aimed at curbing the widespread abuse of cheap, high-alcohol-content drinks.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective,” she said. “We are prioritizing the health and future of Nigerians over short-term economic interests. The health of a nation is its true wealth.”
She explained that sachet and small-volume alcoholic drinks have made alcohol more accessible to minors, commercial drivers, and low-income earners — contributing to rising cases of addiction, domestic violence, accidents, and school dropouts.
NAFDAC recalled that in 2018, it signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and key industry associations to phase out such packaging by January 2024. However, the deadline was extended to December 2025 to enable manufacturers to adjust their production lines and clear old stock.
The agency emphasized that the Senate’s recent resolution reinforces this earlier agreement and reflects Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (WHA63.13, 2010).
Prof. Adeyeye made it clear that no further extension would be granted beyond the new deadline. She urged all manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to comply strictly with the policy, which applies specifically to spirit drinks in sachets and bottles below 200ml, not all alcoholic products.
NAFDAC further stated that it will continue to work with the Federal Ministry of Health, FCCPC, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to intensify public sensitization campaigns on the dangers of alcohol misuse.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that only safe, wholesome, and properly regulated products are available to consumers in Nigeria
