The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced that the full enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small bottles below 200ml will commence in December 2025.
NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, stressing that the decision is final and will not be extended.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth,” Adeyeye said.
She explained that the proliferation of high-alcohol-content drinks in small packaging has made them easily accessible, affordable, and concealable fueling widespread abuse, especially among minors and commercial drivers.
Adeyeye noted that the policy is backed by scientific evidence and public health concerns, despite opposition from some industry stakeholders. “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 stated.
According to her, the consumption of sachet and small-bottle alcohol has been linked to rising incidents of domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social vices.
The directive, she added, aligns with a Senate resolution expressing concern over the easy availability of cheap alcoholic drinks to minors.
NAFDAC had earlier, in December 2018, signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and industry bodies including the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), to phase out sachet and small-bottle alcohol packaging by January 2024.
However, protests from DIBAN led to a temporary suspension of the enforcement, with manufacturers warning of potential job losses. NAFDAC later extended the moratorium to December 2025 to allow producers to deplete existing stock and adjust their production lines.
Adeyeye maintained that the new deadline is final, warning that no further extension will be granted. She urged all manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to comply fully with the directive.
The agency also announced that beginning January 2026, it will collaborate with security agencies to ensure strict nationwide enforcement of the ban.
