By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), will begin enforcing the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets and bottles smaller than 200ml by December 2025.
NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, announced this on Tuesday in Abuja, saying the move aims to curb the abuse of cheap, high-alcohol beverages among youths and commercial drivers.
She said the products’ affordability and concealability had worsened addiction, domestic violence, and road accidents.
The enforcement follows a Senate directive mandating NAFDAC to fully implement the ban without further delay. Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who sponsored the motion, criticised the agency for multiple extensions of the deadline.
Adeyeye reaffirmed that the measure is final and urged manufacturers to comply, stressing that it is meant to protect public health, not punish businesses.
“This ban is protective, not punitive,” she said. “We cannot continue to sacrifice the well-being of Nigerians for short-term economic gain.”
