The Federal Government has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately suspend all enforcement actions linked to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic drinks packaged in 200ml PET bottles.
The directive also instructs the agency to stop sealing factories and warehouses over the issue.
The order was conveyed in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Terrence Kuanum. He explained that the decision followed a joint intervention by the Office of the SGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which raised concerns about the security implications of continuing 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 said.
Although the National Alcohol Policy has been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive, both the SGF’s office and ONSA insisted that NAFDAC must refrain from further enforcement measures until the policy is fully operational and additional directives are issued.
The government clarified that the suspension covers factory shutdowns, warehouse sealing, and public enforcement of the sachet alcohol ban.
According to the statement, the continued sealing of warehouses and what it described as a “de facto ban” without a harmonised policy framework has already begun to disrupt economic activities and raise security concerns, particularly due to its impact on employment, supply chains, and informal distribution networks across the country.
Kuanum noted that the latest directive reinforces an earlier order issued by the SGF’s office in December 2025, which suspended actions related to the proposed ban pending consultations and a final decision.
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, referenced NASS/10/HR/CT.53/77 and signed by the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo, raised concerns about NAFDAC’s proposed enforcement measures and cited existing resolutions of the National Assembly on the matter.
The Federal Government stated that it is reviewing legislative resolutions, public health concerns, economic implications, and broader national interest considerations before reaching a final decision.
It added that the involvement of the National Security Adviser underscores the gravity of the issue, noting that premature enforcement without coordinated policy implementation could destabilise communities, worsen unemployment, and create security challenges.
The government assured Nigerians and industry stakeholders that a final decision would be communicated after comprehensive consultations and inter-agency coordination, in the interest of public health, economic stability, and national security.
