Federal Government Suspends Ban on Sachet Alcohol, Orders NAFDAC to Halt Enforcement

The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately suspend enforcement actions on the ban of sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products. A joint intervention by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) cited concerns over economic stability and potential security threats.

The directive warns that continued enforcement without a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy could “destabilize communities, worsen unemployment, and trigger avoidable security challenges.” The suspension follows a correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs and reaffirms a previous suspension issued in December 2025. NAFDAC is to await final consultations and implementation of the National Alcohol Policy.

KEY POINTS

The suspension protects thousands of jobs in the production and distribution chain of sachet alcohol products.
It averts immediate economic disruption for manufacturers and informal traders dependent on the sub-sector.
Workers and small-scale distributors gain reprieve, while public health advocates face policy setback.
The intervention highlights competing priorities between economic stability, security, and public health objectives.
The timing reflects sensitivity to unemployment concerns and potential social unrest ahead of election cycles.

The final resolution will depend on balancing public health goals with economic realities when the National Alcohol Policy is fully operationalized.

Sources: Daily Post Nigeria, OSGF, ONSA