The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reaffirmed its decision to ban the production and sale of sachet alcohol, insisting that the move is necessary to protect public health—particularly that of children.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Friday, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency would not compromise the wellbeing of young Nigerians in favour of commercial interests.
According to Adeyeye, sachet alcohol poses a serious risk due to its affordability, portability, and ease of concealment, which make it readily accessible to minors. She warned that early exposure could fuel long-term addiction problems.
“We cannot put profit above health,” she said. “This is about protecting our children and the future of our country. We will not sacrifice them on the altar of trade.”
She clarified that NAFDAC is not outlawing alcohol entirely, stressing that the ban applies strictly to alcohol sold in small sachets.
“Alcohol is still approved in other packaging formats,” Adeyeye explained. “What we are banning is alcohol in sachets.”
No Court Order Halting Enforcement
Addressing claims that a court injunction had stopped enforcement of the ban, the NAFDAC boss dismissed the reports, saying the agency had not been served with any such order.
“NAFDAC has not received any court order stopping enforcement,” she stated. “If we had, I would be aware of it.”
She added that the agency resumed enforcement based on clear legislative backing from the National Assembly.
“The Senate directed us to resume enforcement, and we are acting within that mandate,” she said.
Policy Rooted in 2018 Agreement
Adeyeye traced the policy back to 2018, when NAFDAC raised concerns over sachet alcohol products containing between 43 and 45 per cent alcohol. She said discussions were held with manufacturers under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Health, resulting in an agreement to phase out sachet alcohol within five years.
“These products can be easily hidden in the pockets of primary and secondary school students,” she said. “We all agreed that after five years, sachet alcohol would no longer be sold.”
When the initial deadline elapsed on January 31, 2024, a further extension was granted following interventions from lawmakers and industry players. That moratorium, she said, officially ended in December 2025.
“The minister asked that an additional one-year grace period be given,” Adeyeye noted. “That extension expired in December 2025.”
Despite renewed pressure from manufacturers seeking more time, enforcement resumed after the Senate’s directive.
Warning Labels Not Enough
Adeyeye rejected suggestions that warning labels could curb underage drinking, arguing that enforcement would be unrealistic in Nigeria.
“Labels that say ‘Not for under 18’—are we serious?” she asked. “Who is going to enforce that?”
She also pointed out that Nigeria is bound by international commitments to reduce alcohol access to vulnerable populations.
“In 2010, Nigeria signed an agreement at the World Health Assembly alongside 193 countries, committing to making alcohol less accessible to vulnerable groups,” she said.
Registration During Moratorium Explained
Responding to criticisms that NAFDAC continued registering sachet alcohol products during the moratorium period, Adeyeye said the agency was acting in line with legislative directives at the time.
“We were honouring the moratorium by registering products within that window,” she explained. “In hindsight, we may have learned that we shouldn’t have registered those products during that period.”
Addiction Concerns Drive Enforcement
Adeyeye dismissed calls to simply lower alcohol concentration instead of banning sachets, emphasizing that the issue lies in accessibility and concealment rather than volume alone.
She revealed alarming reports of alcohol dependency among students.
“A school principal told us that a student admitted he could not study for exams without taking sachet alcohol,” she said. “We are turning our children into addicts.”
She warned that prolonged alcohol consumption damages vital organs over time, particularly the liver.
Production Lines Shut, Not Entire Companies
Adeyeye clarified that NAFDAC’s enforcement actions target sachet production lines, not entire manufacturing companies.
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“We are shutting down specific production lines, not companies,” she said.
She added that manufacturers were consistently engaged throughout the policy process, including regular meetings with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).
“They were carried along at every stage,” she concluded.
