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The Nigerian Senate has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other regulatory bodies to fully enforce the nationwide ban on high-strength alcoholic beverages sold in sachets, with effect from December 2025.
The lawmakers made it clear that no further extension will be entertained beyond the current moratorium, warning that continued leniency could jeopardise public health and undermine existing regulations.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, who emphasised the urgent need to halt any further delay in phasing out sachet-packaged alcoholic drinks.
During plenary, Senator Ekpeyong reminded his colleagues that the phased ban was introduced after extensive consultations between NAFDAC and industry stakeholders, in accordance with global health standards.
He recalled that in 2018, a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was voluntarily signed by key institutions including the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), NAFDAC, and associations such as the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN).
According to the MoU, producers were expected to gradually eliminate sachet packaging due to growing concerns over its affordability and easy access, especially among children, teenagers, commercial drivers, and other vulnerable groups.
The senator further noted that despite the initial deadline, the Federal Government in 2024 granted manufacturers an additional one-year grace period to deplete their existing stock and adjust to alternative packaging. That extension, he said, will expire in December 2025.
However, Ekpeyong expressed worry that some producers are still lobbying for another postponement, describing the move as “an attempt to weaken regulatory integrity and put profits above public health.”
He cautioned that the continued sale of high-strength alcohol in sachets has been linked to alarming social problems such as youth addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, and school dropouts.
“The dangers are clear,” Senator Ekpeyong said. “We cannot continue to expose young Nigerians and low-income earners to cheap, potent alcohol that ruins lives and families.”
Following deliberations, the Senate also instructed the Federal Ministry of Health to remove any bureaucratic barriers hindering NAFDAC’s enforcement of the ban.
Lawmakers further urged the Ministry to hasten the release of the long-awaited National Alcohol Policy, which will provide a legal framework to eliminate sachet alcohol and promote public awareness campaigns.
The Senate’s resolution signals a renewed commitment to tackling the widespread misuse of alcohol across Nigeria and promoting a healthier, safer society.