The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has clarified that it has not shut down any manufacturing company while enforcing the ban on alcoholic beverages in sachets and small bottles below 200ml. The agency's Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, stated that the action is a targeted public health intervention, not a punitive measure against producers.
In a statement on Thursday, Adeyeye emphasized that the ban aims to protect children, adolescents, and young adults from the harmful use of alcohol. “NAFDAC did not close down any company that makes alcohol. The agency only bans alcohol in sachets and small containers less than 200ml,” she said.
She explained that the widespread availability of these small, cheap, and easily concealable packs has contributed to alcohol misuse among minors and commercial drivers, leading to increased domestic violence, road accidents, and school dropouts. Labelling them "not for children" has proven ineffective, she noted.
Adeyeye recalled that manufacturers were given a six-year moratorium, starting in 2018, to phase out such packaging, with the final deadline extended to December 2025. “The moratorium was later extended to December 2025 to allow industry operators to exhaust old stock and reconfigure production lines,” she stated.
The DG asserted that no further extension would be granted and urged full compliance from manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The policy aligns with a Nigerian Senate resolution and global health strategies to reduce harmful alcohol use.
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