National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reaffirmed its commitment to fully enforce the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small-volume bottles (below 200ml) by December 2025.
Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, following a recent directive by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Adeyeye said the ban, which targets spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small PET/glass bottles, is aimed at curbing the harmful use of alcohol among vulnerable groups, especially children, adolescents, and commercial drivers.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth,” she said. “We cannot continue to sacrifice the well-being of Nigerians for short-term economic gain. The health of a nation is its true wealth.”
The agency noted that the proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in small containers has contributed to rising cases of domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social vices.
NAFDAC recalled that in 2018, it signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with industry stakeholders to phase out such packaging by January 2024. The deadline was later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers to exhaust old stock and reconfigure production lines.
Adeyeye emphasized that no further extension would be granted beyond the new deadline and urged manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to comply fully.
She said the decision aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol.
NAFDAC said it would continue working with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to sensitize the public on the dangers of alcohol misuse.
