The Federal Government has instructed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to suspend all enforcement measures concerning the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.
The government also cautioned the agency to immediately halt the sealing of factories and warehouses over the issue.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Terrence Kuanum.
Kuanum explained that the order followed a joint intervention by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser, which expressed concerns about the security implications of continued enforcement without 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.
He stated that although the National Alcohol Policy had been endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Health in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu, both offices maintained that NAFDAC must suspend all enforcement actions pending the full implementation of the policy and further directives are issued.
The government clarified that such measures include factory shutdowns, warehouse sealing and public emphasis on the sachet alcohol ban.
According to the statement, the continued sealing of warehouses and what it described as a “de facto ban” on sachet alcohol products, without a harmonized policy framework, was already causing economic disruptions and posing security risks, particularly due to its impact on jobs, supply chains and informal distribution networks nationwide.
Kuanum noted that the position reaffirmed an earlier directive issued by the SGF’s office in December 2025, which suspended all actions related to the proposed ban pending consultations and a final decision.
He added that the SGF’s office had received a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control dated November 13, 2025, expressing concerns over NAFDAC’s proposed enforcement measures and referencing existing resolutions of the National Assembly on the matter.
The letter, referenced NASS/10/HR/CT.53/77 and signed by the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo, highlighted reservations over NAFDAC’s proposed enforcement actions and drew attention to existing resolutions of the National Assembly on the issue.
The Federal Government said it is currently reviewing legislative resolutions, public health considerations, economic implications and broader national interest issues surrounding the matter.
The government stated that the involvement of the National Security Adviser indicated that the issue had extended beyond regulatory concerns, warning that premature enforcement without a coordinated policy implementation could destabilize communities, increase unemployment and pose security challenges.
It assured Nigerians and industry stakeholders that a final decision would be announced after due consultations and inter-agency coordination, in the interest of public health, economic stability and national security.
