The Federal Government has instructed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to suspend all enforcement activities linked to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic beverages.
It also ordered the agency to immediately stop sealing factories and warehouses over the matter.
The directive was announced on Wednesday in Abuja in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Terrence Kuanum. According to him, the decision followed a joint intervention by the Office of the SGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser, which expressed concerns about the security implications of enforcing the ban without the full implementation of the National Alcohol Policy.
The statement said all actions, decisions, and enforcement measures related to the sachet alcohol ban must be put on hold pending final consultations and the full rollout of the National Alcohol Policy, as well as the issuance of a fresh directive.
Although the policy has been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive, the government insisted that NAFDAC must refrain from enforcement until the policy is fully operational and further guidance is provided.
The suspension covers factory closures, warehouse sealing, and public pronouncements suggesting an outright ban on sachet alcohol products.
According to the government, continued enforcement — described as a “de facto ban” — without a harmonised policy framework has already triggered economic disruptions and raised security concerns. It noted that the actions were affecting jobs, supply chains, and informal distribution networks across the country.
Kuanum said the latest directive reinforces an earlier order issued by the SGF’s office in December 2025, which had similarly suspended actions on the proposed ban pending broader consultations.
He also disclosed that the SGF’s office received a letter dated November 13, 2025, from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control. The letter, signed by the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo, referenced National Assembly resolutions and raised concerns over NAFDAC’s proposed enforcement plans.
The Federal Government said it is currently reviewing legislative resolutions, public health considerations, economic impacts, and broader national interest issues surrounding the proposed ban.
It added that the involvement of the National Security Adviser underscores that the issue extends beyond regulatory concerns. The government warned that premature enforcement without coordinated policy implementation could destabilise communities, increase unemployment, and heighten security risks.
Authorities assured Nigerians and industry stakeholders that a final decision would be communicated after comprehensive consultations and inter-agency coordination, balancing public health objectives with economic stability and national security considerations.
