FG orders NAFDAC to suspend sachet alcohol ban enforcement over economic, security concerns

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

The directive, described as a joint intervention by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), was issued over what authorities termed serious concerns about economic stability and potential security threats.

Both offices cautioned that continued enforcement of the ban, in the absence of a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy, could “destabilize communities, worsen unemployment, and trigger avoidable security challenges.”

In a statement by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, the government clarified that although the National Alcohol Policy has been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health under the directive of President Bola Tinubu, NAFDAC must refrain from sealing factories or warehouses until the policy is fully operationalized.

The SGF and the NSA stressed that the current “de facto banning” of sachet alcohol products without a harmonised framework is already causing disruptions across the country.

“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 warned.

The OSGF disclosed that its decision was partly influenced by correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control dated November 13, 2025. The letter, signed by Deputy Chairman Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, referenced existing National Assembly resolutions cautioning against the proposed ban.

Reaffirming an earlier suspension issued in December 2025, the OSGF stated that it is reviewing legislative, public health and economic considerations before a final decision is taken. “Accordingly, 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 emphasized.

The Federal Government further declared that any unauthorized enforcement action by NAFDAC would be considered “invalid,” urging the public and industry stakeholders to disregard measures not cleared by the OSGF.