Sunday Apah
The Federal Government has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to suspend all enforcement actions concerning the proposed prohibition of sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic beverages.
In a directive issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the government instructed NAFDAC to cease immediately the sealing of factories and warehouses related to the ban.
The announcement was made by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Kuanum stated that the suspension follows a joint intervention by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser, which highlighted serious security concerns arising from continued enforcement in the absence of a fully operational National Alcohol Policy.
“All actions, decisions, or enforcement measures regarding the ongoing ban on sachet alcohol are to be put on hold pending final consultations, implementation of the National Alcohol Policy, and the issuance of a conclusive directive,” the statement declared.
Although the National Alcohol Policy was signed by the Federal Ministry of Health under President Bola Tinubu’s directive, both offices emphasized that NAFDAC must refrain from any enforcement—including factory shutdowns, warehouse closures, and public emphasis on the ban—until the policy is fully executed and further instructions are provided.
The statement warned that the ongoing sealing of warehouses and what it termed a “de facto ban” on sachet alcohol, without a harmonised policy framework, has already triggered economic disruptions and security risks.
These repercussions stem from the ban’s impact on employment, supply chains, and informal distribution networks across the nation.
This latest directive reinforces an earlier suspension issued by the SGF’s office in December 2025, which halted all actions on the proposed ban pending consultations and a final resolution.
Additionally, the SGF’s office acknowledged a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control, dated November 13, 2025, which expressed concerns over NAFDAC’s planned enforcement and referenced existing National Assembly resolutions on the matter. The letter, referenced NASS/10/HR/CT.53/77 and signed by Deputy Chairman Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo, underscored legislative unease regarding the agency’s actions.
The Federal Government confirmed it is currently reviewing legislative resolutions, public health considerations, economic consequences, and national interest factors related to the proposed ban.
With the National Security Adviser now involved, the government cautioned that the issue has escalated beyond regulatory confines, noting that premature enforcement without coordinated policy execution could destabilize communities, exacerbate unemployment, and provoke security challenges.
The government assured citizens and industry stakeholders that a definitive decision will be communicated following thorough consultations and inter-agency coordination, balancing public health, economic stability, and national security priorities.
