Fed. Govt Halts NAFDAC’s Enforcement Of Ban On Sachet Alcoholic Drinks

By Suleiman Anyalewechi 

The Federal Government of Nigeria on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, asked the authorities of the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to put a hold  on the ongoing enforcement of the ban placed on sachet alcohol drinks in the country.

The Source reports that NAFDAC, after a long period of warning, recently commenced moves to halt the production, distribution and retailing of all satchet alcoholic drinks in the country, citing public health concerns,  fake and counterfeit production and  unwholesome effects, particularly on the youth as  major reasons.

But in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, on Public Affairs, Terrence Kuanum, the Federal Government affirmed the suspension of all enforcement activities by NAFDAC on sachet, and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products pending further directives.

According to the statement, the directives for the halting of the enforcement exercise followed the receipt of a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control expressing concern over the planned NAFDAC’s enforcement despite existing resolutions  by law makers calling for a cessation of action.

The House Committee’s letter referenced NASS/10/HR/CT.53/77 and signed by Deputy Chairman Hon Uchenna Harris Okonkwo had  drawn attention to the need to respect the resolutions of the National Assembly on the issue.

The office of the SGF, therefore, noted that it is presently reviewing all relevant legislative resolution, public health considerations, economic implications and national interest factors associated with the issue of the manufacturing and distribution of sachet alcoholic drinks in the country..

“Accordingly, all actions, decisions or enforcement measures relating to the sachet alcohol ban remain suspended pending final consultations ,full implementation of the National Alcohol Policy ,and the issuance of definitive directive”, the SGF stated.

The  statement warned that any enforcement exercise carried out on the said issue of alcoholic drinks ban, without the expressed permission of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will be considered a nullity . 

This is as the SGF assured Nigerians , particularly industry stakeholders that a final, balanced and lawful decision on the issue ,will be communicated in due course after comprehensive consultations and inter-agency coordination in the overall interest of public health, economic stability and national security.

The office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and that of National Security Adviser, NSA, were said to have Intervened in the present circumstances , raising serious concerns over the security , economic and social implications of the enforcement exercise in the face of the absence of a fully operational National Alcohol Policy.

Although the National Alcohol Policy is said to have been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health ,it is however yet to fully come on stream to provide NAFDAC with the needed  legal backbone to enforce the ban on the manufacturing and distribution of sachet alcoholic drinks in the country.