The Nigerian Senate has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other regulatory bodies to fully enforce the ban on high-strength alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets starting from December 2025.
Lawmakers made this resolution after adopting a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, who called for an immediate end to further delays in phasing out sachet-packaged alcohol.
During plenary, Senator Ekpeyong reminded the chamber that NAFDAC had, after consultations with industry stakeholders and in line with global standards, announced a phased ban on the production, importation, and distribution of alcohol in sachet packs.
He explained that in 2018, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), NAFDAC, and industry associations such as the Association of Food, Beverage & Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement was designed to gradually eliminate sachet-packaged alcoholic beverages over concerns about their affordability and easy access by minors, commercial drivers, and other vulnerable groups.
Although the original deadline expired earlier, the Federal Government granted a one-year grace period in 2024 for manufacturers to clear existing stocks and transition to compliant packaging, extending the final phase-out to December 2025.
ALSO READ:We’ll crush terrorism, engage world leaders — Tinubu
Senator Ekpeyong, however, raised alarm that some producers are lobbying for another extension, warning that such moves undermine regulatory authority and public health. He added that continued availability of high-strength alcohol in sachets contributes to youth addiction, road accidents, domestic violence, and other social problems.
Following deliberations, the Senate directed the Federal Ministry of Health to eliminate any obstacles hindering NAFDAC’s enforcement of the ban. It also urged the Ministry to fast-track the release of the National Alcohol Policy to officially prohibit sachet alcohol packaging and drive public awareness on its dangers.