The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to suspend all enforcement actions related to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products. Factories and warehouses are to remain operational, and sealing activities must stop immediately, the government said.
The directive was issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). He explained that the order followed a joint intervention by the SGF’s office and the Office of the National Security Adviser, which raised concerns about the security risks of enforcing the ban before a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy is in place.
“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 read.
Kuanum noted that although the National Alcohol Policy had been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health under President Bola Tinubu’s directive, NAFDAC must refrain from enforcement measures until the policy is fully operational. He added that shutdowns, warehouse sealing, and public emphasis on the ban are included in the suspended measures.
The government highlighted that ongoing enforcement without a harmonised policy framework has already caused economic disruptions, threatening jobs, supply chains, and informal distribution networks, and could pose broader security risks.
The SGF’s office recalled that a similar suspension directive had been issued in December 2025. In addition, a November 2025 letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control had raised concerns over NAFDAC’s proposed actions and referenced resolutions of the National Assembly on the matter.
The Federal Government said it is reviewing legislative resolutions, public health considerations, economic impacts, and national interest factors before issuing a final decision. Authorities assured Nigerians and industry stakeholders that the outcome would be communicated after full inter-agency consultations.
The government emphasized that premature enforcement without coordination could destabilise communities, worsen unemployment, and trigger security challenges, underscoring the sensitive nature of the issue.
