FG Reaffirms Suspension of Sachet Alcohol Ban, Orders NAFDAC to Halt Enforcement Over Security Concerns
By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government has reiterated the suspension of all enforcement actions relating to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products, directing the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately cease further factory shutdowns and warehouse sealings.
The renewed directive follows a joint intervention by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), both of which raised concerns over the security implications of continued enforcement in the absence of a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy.
According to the OSGF and NSA, although the National Alcohol Policy has now been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive, enforcement actions must remain suspended until the policy is fully operationalised and a final directive is issued by the Office of the SGF.
The two offices warned that ongoing sealing of factories and warehouses, as well as what they described as a “de facto ban” on sachet alcohol products without a harmonised policy framework, is already causing economic disruptions. They noted that such actions risk triggering broader security challenges due to their impact on employment, supply chains, and informal distribution networks nationwide.
The position reinforces an earlier directive issued in December 2025 by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which formally suspended all actions related to the proposed ban pending consultations and a final government decision.
In a statement by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, Terrence Kuanum, the OSGF disclosed that it had received a letter dated November 13, 2025, from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control. The correspondence, referenced NASS/10/HR/CT.53/77 and signed by the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, expressed concerns over NAFDAC’s enforcement plans and cited existing resolutions of the National Assembly on the matter.
The OSGF stated that, in its statutory role as Chairman of the Cabinet Secretariat, it is reviewing all legislative resolutions, public health considerations, economic implications, and broader national interest factors surrounding the proposed ban.
“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 said.
It further clarified that any enforcement action undertaken by NAFDAC or any other agency without due clearance from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is invalid and should be disregarded by the public until an official position is formally communicated.
With the NSA’s involvement, the Federal Government has elevated the issue beyond regulatory oversight, underscoring the potential security ramifications of premature enforcement. Officials warned that uncoordinated actions could destabilise communities, worsen unemployment, and create avoidable social tensions.
The SGF and NSA reiterated that NAFDAC is expected to stand down immediately from further enforcement or public emphasis on the sachet alcohol ban until the National Alcohol Policy is fully implemented and appropriate directives are issued.
The Federal Government assured Nigerians and industry stakeholders that a final decision, balancing public health objectives with economic and security considerations, will be communicated after comprehensive consultations and inter-agency coordination.
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