The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately suspend all enforcement actions related to the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products.
The offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF, and National Security Adviser, ONSA, in a joint intervention, cited grave concerns over economic stability and potential security threats as reasons for the directive.
The statement warned that continued enforcement, in the absence of a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy, could “destabilize communities, worsen unemployment, and trigger avoidable security challenges”.
According to the statement signed by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, the government clarified that while the National Alcohol Policy has been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health under the direction of President Bola Tinubu, NAFDAC must refrain from sealing factories or warehouses until the policy is fully operationalized.
The statement emphasized that the current “de facto banning” of the products without a harmonized framework is creating significant disruptions.
“The continued sealing of warehouses and de facto banning of sachet alcohol products is already creating economic disruptions and poses a growing security threat, particularly given the impact on employment, supply chains, and informal distribution networks across the country,” the statement warned.
The statement further revealed that the decision was influenced by a correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control, dated November 13, 2025.
The letter, signed by Deputy Chairman Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, highlighted existing National Assembly resolutions that cautioned against the proposed ban.
Reaffirming a previous suspension issued in December 2025, the statement stated the need to review legislative, public health and economic factors before a final decision is reached.
“Accordingly, all actions, decisions, or enforcement measures relating to the ongoing ban on sachet alcohol are to be suspended pending the final consultations and implementation of the National Alcohol Policy and the issuance of a final directive,” the statement emphasized.
