The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confirmed that the production and sale of alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and bottles smaller than 200 millilitres will be completely banned by December 2025.
NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made this announcement during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday. She explained that the move is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to curb the rising abuse of cheap alcoholic beverages, especially among youths and commercial drivers.
According to her, the widespread availability of high-alcohol drinks in sachets and small bottles has made them “too affordable, accessible, and easy to hide,” leading to increased addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, and school dropouts in communities nationwide.
This announcement comes shortly after the Nigerian Senate directed NAFDAC to fully enforce the ban by December 2025, with no further extensions allowed.
The Senate’s resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), who expressed concern over repeated delays despite mounting public health risks.
Senator Ekpenyong noted that the agency had shifted the ban’s deadline multiple times — from 2023 to 2024, and later to 2025 — a move he said has emboldened manufacturers to continue lobbying for more time.
He warned that further postponement would betray public trust and undermine Nigeria’s global commitment to health and safety standards.
Prof. Adeyeye emphasized that the final decision was made in line with scientific findings and public health considerations. She urged manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to begin full compliance ahead of the deadline, stressing that the ban is protective, not punitive.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It aims to safeguard the health and future of our children and youth. The health of a nation is its true wealth,” she stated.
