FG Suspends NAFDAC Enforcement on Sachet Alcohol Ban

FG has suspended NAFDAC enforcement on Sachet Alcohol Ban and ordered immediate halt to factory and warehouse closures.

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to suspend all enforcement actions relating to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.

The government also ordered the agency to immediately stop sealing factories and warehouses over the issue.

The directive was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Terrence Kuanum. According to the statement, the decision followed a joint intervention by the Office of the SGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), which raised concerns about the security implications of continued enforcement without a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy.

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“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.

Although the National Alcohol Policy has been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive, the government stressed that NAFDAC must refrain from enforcement measures until the policy is fully implemented and further guidance is issued.

The suspension covers factory shutdowns, warehouse sealing and public enforcement activities related to the sachet alcohol ban.

The government noted that the continued sealing of warehouses and what it described as a “de facto ban” had begun to cause economic disruptions and raise security concerns, particularly due to the impact on jobs, supply chains and informal distribution networks nationwide.

It also referenced an earlier directive issued by the SGF’s office in December 2025 suspending actions on the proposed ban pending consultations and a final decision.

In addition, the SGF’s office acknowledged receiving a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control dated November 13, 2025. The letter, signed by the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo, expressed concerns over NAFDAC’s proposed enforcement actions and referenced existing resolutions of the National Assembly on the matter.

The Federal Government said it is reviewing legislative resolutions, public health considerations, economic implications and broader national interest factors before making a final determination.

It added that the involvement of the National Security Adviser highlights the wider implications of the issue, warning that premature enforcement without coordinated policy implementation could destabilise communities, worsen unemployment and create security challenges.

The government assured Nigerians and industry stakeholders that a final decision would be communicated after consultations and inter-agency coordination, balancing public health priorities with economic stability and national security.