By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to immediately suspend enforcement actions linked to the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products, citing economic and national security concerns.
The directive, issued jointly by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), warned that continued enforcement without a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy could worsen unemployment and trigger avoidable security challenges.
In a statement by the SGF’s Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Terrence Kuanum, the government said the National Alcohol Policy has been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health under President Bola Tinubu’s directive, but NAFDAC must not seal factories or warehouses until the policy is fully operational.
The government said the ongoing “de facto banning” of sachet alcohol products was already disrupting employment, supply chains and informal distribution networks nationwide.
It added that any enforcement action carried out by NAFDAC without clearance from the OSGF would be considered invalid.
The directive followed a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control dated November 13, 2025, referencing National Assembly resolutions cautioning against the ban.
The FG said it is reviewing legislative, public health and economic considerations and promised a final decision in due course.
