By Atoyebi Nike
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced a nationwide ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles below 200 millilitres, effective December 2025.
NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this in Abuja, explaining that the move is part of efforts to curb mounting public health concerns linked to the misuse of cheap and portable alcoholic drinks.
Adeyeye said the easy accessibility and affordability of high-alcohol sachet drinks have led to widespread consumption among minors, commercial drivers, and other vulnerable groups, contributing to addiction, domestic violence, school dropouts, and road accidents.
She noted that the phase-out process began in 2018 when NAFDAC, the Ministry of Health, FCCPC, and major industry groups including AFBTE and DIBAN signed a five-year MoU to eliminate sachet alcohol due to rising health and social concerns.
Although the ban was initially planned for 2023, manufacturers sought more time to adjust production lines and clear existing inventory. The Federal Government granted a one-year moratorium in 2024, extending the deadline to December 2025.
Adeyeye said the directive aligns with a Senate resolution warning about the dangers of cheap alcohol products and vowed that no further extensions would be granted.
“The Senate’s resolution is absolute and no further extension will be granted,” she said, urging manufacturers and retailers to comply ahead of the deadline.
She stressed that the ban is aimed at public health protection, not the punishment of businesses, and announced that enforcement will commence in January 2026 in partnership with security agencies.
