The Federal Government has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to suspend enforcement actions related to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in small PET bottles (200ml and below).
The directive, issued through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), followed concerns raised by key stakeholders, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), over the economic and security implications of enforcing the ban at this time.
According to the government, ongoing enforcement measures including the sealing of factories and warehouses risk triggering mass job losses, supply chain disruptions, and instability within informal retail markets, where sachet alcohol products are widely distributed. Officials described the enforcement as effectively amounting to a “de facto ban,” despite the absence of a fully operational National Alcohol Policy framework.
The FG stressed that NAFDAC must pause all punitive actions until consultations are concluded and a comprehensive implementation strategy is agreed upon. The review will examine the public health objectives of the ban alongside its broader economic impact, particularly on manufacturers, distributors, small-scale retailers, and consumers.
The move also follows concerns previously raised by the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drug Administration and Control, which questioned the timing and potential consequences of the restriction.
However, amid the reports, NAFDAC has reportedly stated that it has not received any formal directive suspending the enforcement and maintains that its regulatory activities remain guided by existing laws and mandates.
The situation reflects an ongoing policy tension between public health regulation and economic sustainability, as authorities seek a balanced approach to alcohol control in Nigeria.
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