The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately suspend all enforcement actions relating to the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products.
The directive followed 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), which raised grave concerns over potential economic instability and security threats linked to the ongoing enforcement.
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 signed by the Federal Ministry of Health under the directive of President Bola Tinubu, NAFDAC must refrain from sealing factories, warehouses, or taking further enforcement steps until the policy is fully operationalised.
The statement warned that the continued sealing of warehouses and what it described as a “de facto banning” of sachet alcohol products without a harmonised framework could destabilise communities and worsen unemployment.
“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 read.
According to the government, enforcing the ban in the absence of a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy risks triggering avoidable security challenges across affected communities.
The latest directive was also influenced by a correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control dated November 13, 2025. The letter, signed by Deputy Chairman Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, referenced existing National Assembly resolutions cautioning against the proposed ban.
Reaffirming an earlier suspension issued in December 2025, the Federal Government stressed the need for a comprehensive review of legislative, public health and economic considerations before any 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 emphasised.
The government assured stakeholders that further consultations would be conducted to ensure a balanced approach that safeguards public health while protecting jobs and maintaining national security.
