The Federal Government has suspended the enforcement of the proposed ban on sachet alcohol products, directing all regulatory actions by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to be placed on hold pending further consultations.
The directive was issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) following correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control concerning the planned implementation of the ban.
In a statement released on Monday, the OSGF confirmed receipt of the letter dated November 13, 2025, signed by the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, which referenced existing resolutions of the National Assembly on the issue.
According to the statement, the matter is currently under review in line with the OSGF’s statutory role as Chairman of the Cabinet Secretariat.
Consequently, the federal government directed that all decisions, actions, and enforcement measures related to the sachet alcohol ban be immediately suspended until consultations are concluded and a final directive is issued.
The OSGF clarified that any enforcement action taken by NAFDAC or any other agency without official clearance should be disregarded by the public, noting that such actions would be considered invalid until a definitive position is communicated.
The federal government assured Nigerians that legislative resolutions, public health concerns, economic implications, and national interest considerations are being carefully examined to arrive at a balanced and lawful outcome.
The statement added that the public would be duly informed once a final decision is reached.
The directive was signed by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and dated December 15, 2025.
The proposed ban has been the subject of growing debate, rooted in public health concerns over the widespread availability of ultra-cheap alcohol sold in sachets and small PET bottles, which regulators say has increased access to minors and vulnerable groups.
NAFDAC had previously cited links between sachet alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse, road accidents, domestic violence, and long-term health risks, prompting its move toward regulation and prohibition.