FG Reaffirms Suspension of Sachet Alcohol Ban, Orders NAFDAC to Halt Enforcement

FG Reaffirms Suspension of Sachet Alcohol Ban, Orders NAFDAC to Halt Enforcement

The Federal Government has reaffirmed the suspension of all enforcement actions relating to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products, directing the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately cease further factory shutdowns and warehouse sealings.

The renewed directive follows a joint intervention by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), both of which raised serious concerns over the security implications of continued enforcement in the absence of a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy.

According to the OSGF and NSA, the National Alcohol Policy has now been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive. However, they stressed that until the policy is fully operationalised and further guidance is issued by the Office of the SGF, NAFDAC must refrain from all enforcement measures, including factory closures, warehouse sealings, and public pronouncements emphasising the sachet alcohol ban.

The two offices warned that the continued sealing of warehouses and the effective banning of sachet alcohol products without a harmonised policy framework is already causing economic disruptions and poses growing security risks. They noted that such actions could negatively impact employment, disrupt supply chains, and affect informal distribution networks across the country.

This position reinforces an earlier directive issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in December 2025, which formally suspended all actions relating to the proposed ban pending consultations and a final government decision.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, Terrence Kuanum, the OSGF disclosed that it had received official correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control dated November 13, 2025. The letter, referenced NASS/10/HR/CT.53/77 and signed by the Committee’s Deputy Chairman, Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, expressed concerns over NAFDAC’s proposed enforcement actions and drew attention to existing resolutions of the National Assembly on the matter.

The OSGF explained that, in its capacity as Chairman of the Cabinet Secretariat, it is reviewing all legislative resolutions, public health considerations, economic implications, and broader national interest factors surrounding the issue.

“Accordingly, all actions, decisions, or enforcement measures relating to the ongoing ban on sachet alcohol are to be suspended pending final consultations, full implementation of the National Alcohol Policy, and the issuance of a definitive directive,” the statement emphasised.

The Office further clarified that any enforcement action carried out by NAFDAC or any other agency without due clearance and resolution from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is invalid and should be disregarded by the public until an official position is formally communicated.

With the intervention of the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Federal Government has elevated the matter beyond regulatory considerations, stressing that premature enforcement without coordinated policy implementation could destabilise communities, worsen unemployment, and trigger avoidable security challenges.

The SGF and NSA reiterated that NAFDAC is expected to comply immediately by suspending all enforcement activities and refraining from further public emphasis on the sachet alcohol ban until the National Alcohol Policy is fully operational and additional directives are issued.

The Federal Government assured Nigerians and industry stakeholders that a final, balanced, and lawful decision will be communicated in due course following comprehensive consultations and inter-agency coordination, in the overall interest of public health, economic stability, and national security.