Nigeria’s food and drug regulator has said a ban on the production and sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets and small bottles will be enforced from December.
The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, announced the move at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
She said the decision was part of efforts to address the growing misuse of cheap alcoholic drinks among young people and drivers.
“The proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers has made such products easily accessible, affordable, and concealable, leading to widespread misuse and addiction among minors and commercial drivers,” Prof Adeyeye said.
“This public health menace has been linked to increased incidences of domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and social vices across communities,” she added.
The announcement follows a directive from the Senate, which on Thursday instructed NAFDAC to implement a total ban on the products by December and insisted no further extensions would be allowed.
The Senate’s resolution came after a motion by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who expressed concern that the agency had repeatedly postponed the ban despite public health worries.
Prof Adeyeye explained that the agency had previously agreed with stakeholders on a phased withdrawal of the products, with deadlines being moved from 2023 to 2025.
However, she stressed that the Senate’s latest resolution was final and that no more extensions would be granted.
She urged manufacturers, distributors and retailers to begin full compliance ahead of the enforcement date.
The NAFDAC chief clarified that the ban was a protective measure, not a punitive one, aimed at safeguarding public health.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth,” Prof Adeyeye said.
“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,” she added.
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