The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reaffirmed that the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and bottles smaller than 200 millilitres will be completely banned by December 2025.
The agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, stating that the decision is aimed at curbing the rising misuse of cheap alcoholic drinks among youths and commercial drivers.
“The proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers has made these products easily accessible, affordable, and concealable, leading to misuse and addiction among minors and drivers,”
Adeyeye said.
She further noted that the growing abuse of such drinks has been linked to domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social vices across Nigeria.
The announcement follows the Senate’s directive on Thursday, mandating NAFDAC to fully enforce the ban by December 2025 without any further extension. The resolution came after a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), who raised concerns over the agency’s repeated postponements of the implementation.
Senator Ekpenyong criticised the multiple extensions of the original 2023 deadline, describing them as setbacks that emboldened manufacturers to continue lobbying for more time.
He warned that any further delay would undermine Nigeria’s public health goals and international safety commitments.
Prof. Adeyeye clarified that NAFDAC’s latest directive aligns with the Senate’s resolution, stressing that the 2025 deadline is final and that no further extensions will be granted.
She revealed that the agency had previously signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with stakeholders to ensure a phased withdrawal of the products.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth,”
she explained.
“The decision is rooted in scientific evidence and public health considerations. We cannot continue to sacrifice the well-being of Nigerians for short-term economic gain. The health of a nation is its true wealth.”
Adeyeye urged manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to commence full compliance ahead of the December 2025 enforcement date, assuring that NAFDAC will intensify monitoring and enforcement efforts nationwide.
