Nigeria’s drug regulator has addressed public concerns over the possible shutdown of alcohol companies as it intensifies enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol and small-sized bottles, insisting that the action targets packaging formats rather than licensed manufacturers.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said enforcement has resumed against alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and in PET or glass bottles below 200 millilitres, in line with a Senate resolution and its public health mandate.
The agency clarified that the move does not amount to a blanket closure of alcohol-producing companies.
However, NAFDAC explained that production lines, distribution channels, and retail outlets dealing specifically in the prohibited sachet and small-bottle alcohol products are expected to shut down such operations immediately, as continued activity would violate existing regulations.
Moreover, the agency noted that the enforcement drive, supported by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is aimed at reducing the harmful use of alcohol, particularly among children, adolescents, and young adults.
According to NAFDAC, the low cost, easy concealment, and widespread availability of sachet alcohol have significantly contributed to underage drinking, addiction, and related social problems.
“These products have made alcohol easily accessible to vulnerable groups, with consequences ranging from road traffic accidents to school dropouts and other social vices,” the agency stated.
Providing further context, NAFDAC recalled that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with alcohol industry stakeholders in December 2018 to phase out sachet alcohol and small-volume bottles.
Although the initial deadline was January 2024, the moratorium was later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers exhaust existing stock and retool their production lines.
Commenting on the renewed enforcement, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, said the objective was public health protection rather than punishment.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is designed to safeguard children and young people from easy access to alcohol and the long-term consequences of misuse,” she said.
Furthermore, she warned that no additional extensions would be granted beyond December 2025, urging all stakeholders to comply fully with the regulations.
Hence, while alcohol companies may continue operations with approved packaging above 200 millilitres, NAFDAC said any firm that fails to discontinue sachet and small-bottle alcohol production risks regulatory sanctions as enforcement is stepped up nationwide.