The Federal Government has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to halt all enforcement actions related to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products, officials confirmed on Wednesday in Abuja.
The directive also instructed NAFDAC to immediately stop sealing factories and warehouses linked to the production and distribution of the products, according to a statement issued by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Kuanum said the decision followed a joint intervention by the Office of the SGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser, which highlighted potential security risks arising from continued enforcement in the absence of a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy.
“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 had been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health in line with directives from President Bola Tinubu, both offices insisted that NAFDAC must refrain from any enforcement measures until the policy is fully implemented and further instructions are issued.
The government highlighted that ongoing factory shutdowns, warehouse sealing, and public enforcement of the sachet alcohol ban, described as a “de facto ban”, were already disrupting economic activities and posing security risks, particularly affecting jobs, supply chains, and informal distribution networks across Nigeria.
Kuanum noted that the decision reinforced an earlier directive from the SGF’s office in December 2025, which also suspended enforcement actions pending consultations and a final decision.
The statement further referenced a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control, dated November 13, 2025, signed by Deputy Chairman Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo (Ref: NASS/10/HR/CT.53/77). The letter raised concerns about NAFDAC’s proposed enforcement actions and cited existing resolutions of the National Assembly.
“The involvement of the National Security Adviser shows that the issue has gone beyond regulatory concerns. Premature enforcement without coordinated policy implementation could destabilise communities, worsen unemployment, and trigger security challenges,” Kuanum said.
The Federal Government assured Nigerians and industry stakeholders that a final decision would follow consultations and inter-agency coordination, taking into account public health, economic stability, and national security.
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