The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reiterated its plan to fully enforce the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and bottles smaller than 200ml by December 2025.
According to the agency, the measure aligns with the directive of the Nigerian Senate and its statutory responsibility to safeguard public health, particularly among youths and vulnerable populations.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, announced this on Tuesday during a press conference and the launch of the agency’s Health and Regulatory Initiatives. She described the move as part of an ongoing effort to curb the abuse of cheap, high-alcohol-content drinks in the country.
Adeyeye said the decision, supported by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, was prompted by rising cases of alcohol misuse among minors, commercial drivers, and low-income groups. She noted that the easy accessibility of sachet and small-sized alcoholic drinks has worsened problems such as addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, and school dropouts.
“This ban is not punitive but protective,” she stated. “It is intended to safeguard the health and future of our children and youth. Public health and scientific evidence must take precedence over short-term economic interests.”
NAFDAC recalled that in 2018, it signed a five-year agreement with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and industry groups to phase out such packaging by January 2024. The deadline was later extended to December 2025 to allow producers to adjust operations.
Adeyeye emphasized that no further extension would be granted after the new deadline and urged full compliance from manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The ban, she clarified, applies only to spirit drinks in sachets and bottles below 200ml.
The agency said it will continue to partner with the Ministry of Health, FCCPC, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to raise public awareness about the dangers of alcohol abuse and ensure only safe, properly regulated products are available to Nigerians.
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