ABUJA — The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately suspend all enforcement actions related to the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products, citing economic and security concerns.
The directive, issued jointly by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), warned that continued enforcement without a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy could destabilize communities, increase unemployment, and create avoidable security challenges.
In a statement signed by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, the government clarified that although the National Alcohol Policy has been approved by the Federal Ministry of Health under President Bola Tinubu’s directive, NAFDAC must refrain from sealing factories or warehouses until the policy is fully operational.
The statement stressed that the ongoing “de facto ban” and sealing of warehouses are already causing significant disruptions to employment, supply chains, and informal distribution networks nationwide.
According to the OSGF, the decision followed a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control dated November 13, 2025. The correspondence, signed by Deputy Chairman Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, referenced existing National Assembly resolutions advising caution over the proposed ban.
Reaffirming an earlier suspension announced in December 2025, the OSGF said it is reviewing legislative, public health, and economic considerations before issuing a final directive.
“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,” the statement said.
The government further declared that any enforcement action not cleared by the OSGF would be considered invalid, urging the public and industry stakeholders to disregard such measures.
