The Federal Government has officially banned the production, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and 200-millilitre bottles.According to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), enforcement of the ban will begin on January 1, 2026.
To strengthen regulatory enforcement, NAFDAC disclosed that the Federal Government has approved the recruitment of an additional 1,000 personnel starting in December.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency had approved a complete ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET or glass bottles (under 200ml) by December 2025, following a Senate resolution and a directive from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
“This decisive action, ordered by the Nigerian Senate and backed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, underscores the agency’s statutory mandate to safeguard public health and protect vulnerable populations, particularly children, adolescents and young adults from the harmful use of alcohol.”
The NAFDAC Director-General explained that the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content beverages packaged in sachets and small containers has made these products cheap, easily accessible, and simple to conceal, resulting in rampant abuse and addiction among minors and commercial drivers.
She added that the unchecked sale of alcohol in different forms and quantities has become not only a public health risk but also a national security concern, noting that early alcohol consumption among youths often fuels drug use and criminal behaviour.
“This public health menace has been linked to increased incidences of domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and social vices across communities,” she said.
According to Adeyeye, the ban is not punitive; but protective.
“It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth. 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. NAFDAC reiterates that only two categories of alcoholic beverages are affected by this regulation—spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small-volume PET/glass bottles below 200ml,” Adeyeye said.
Reflecting on the series of efforts undertaken by the agency to curb the growing spread of alcohol consumption, she stated:
In December 2018, NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) to phase out the production of sachet and small-volume alcoholic beverages by January 31, 2024.
“The moratorium was later extended to December 2025 to allow industry operators to exhaust old stock and reconfigure production lines. NAFDAC emphasizes that the current Senate resolution aligns with the spirit and letter of that agreement and with Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (WHA63.13, 2010), to which Nigeria is a signatory.”
The Director-General called on all stakeholders, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to adhere strictly to the phase-out deadline, stressing that no extension will be granted beyond December 2025.
Outlining the agency’s enforcement strategy, Adeyeye said NAFDAC will continue collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to carry out nationwide sensitization campaigns on the health and social risks associated with alcohol abuse.
