The decision by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce a nationwide ban on the production and sale of sachet and small-bottle alcoholic drinks has drawn fierce criticism from civil society groups, who warn that the policy could cripple a key manufacturing sector and cost Nigeria up to ₦1.9 trillion in industry losses. The controversy is reigniting a long-standing national debate over public health, regulatory enforcement, and the survival of small and medium-scale businesses within Nigeria’s struggling economy.
The current dispute dates back to 2018, when NAFDAC, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, began discussions with key stakeholders on curbing alcohol abuse, particularly among minors and commercial transport drivers. The agency had raised an alarm that low-cost alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small plastic bottles were becoming increasingly accessible to children, street hawkers, and commercial drivers, resulting in rising addiction rates and accidents. By 2020, NAFDAC, working through the Federal Executive Council, had set a roadmap for phasing out alcohol packaged in containers smaller than 200 millilitres. The initial phase was slated for 2021, but widespread backlash from manufacturers, distributors, and labour unions forced the government to delay enforcement.
After several postponements, NAFDAC officially reaffirmed in early 2024 that it would fully enforce the ban by December 31, 2025. The decision followed recommendations from the Federal Ministry of Health, which insisted that sachet alcohol encourages excessive drinking and undermines Nigeria’s public health goals. Under the directive, all alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets, PET bottles, or glass bottles smaller than 200 millilitres must be discontinued nationwide. Producers were instructed to commence gradual withdrawal from the market and redirect production toward larger, more controlled packaging formats.
This renewed enforcement has triggered a strong backlash from various civil society actors, trade groups, and labour advocates. One of the most vocal groups, Stand Up Nigeria, condemned the move in a press conference in Abuja, describing it as economically disastrous and socially insensitive. The group’s convener argued that the decision lacked stakeholder consultation and violated established democratic norms. According to their analysis, the policy threatens over 500,000 direct jobs in production and distribution, and more than five million indirect jobs across related sectors, including transportation, packaging, logistics, advertising, and retail.
The activists also accused NAFDAC of ignoring the recommendations of a multi-stakeholder committee that had worked on a draft National Alcohol Policy in 2025. That committee, which included representatives from NAFDAC, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, and civil society groups, proposed a set of harm-reduction strategies instead of an outright ban. Their suggestions included restricting sales to licensed outlets, enforcing minimum age requirements, intensifying public education campaigns, and improving product traceability to prevent underage access. According to Stand Up Nigeria, those recommendations were submitted barely a month before NAFDAC announced its final ban, yet the agency disregarded them.
Beyond job losses, the group warned that the policy could destroy one of Nigeria’s most vibrant value chains. The liquor and beverage industry contributes significantly to manufacturing output, tax revenues, and rural employment through agricultural raw materials such as sorghum and maize. By eliminating small-scale packaging, critics say NAFDAC risks forcing small producers out of business while creating a monopoly for large multinationals that can afford to transition to more expensive packaging. Analysts also fear the ban could push production underground, increasing the circulation of unregulated and potentially dangerous homemade spirits.
NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, who is one of the main proponents of the ban, has repeatedly defended the policy, saying that cheap alcohol poses a growing threat to public safety. She cited findings from a 2018 health survey indicating that underage drinking and roadside consumption of sachet alcohol had risen sharply, especially among commercial drivers. According to NAFDAC, the small size and affordability of the sachets make it easy for underage persons to buy alcohol, thereby normalising early addiction. The agency insists that Nigeria’s alcohol problem requires decisive intervention before it becomes a full-blown public health crisis.
Nonetheless, critics argue that the agency’s data is outdated and lacks sufficient evidence to justify such sweeping economic consequences. They question whether NAFDAC has evaluated the potential fiscal implications or designed any social safety measures for those whose livelihoods depend on the industry. Labour groups like the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees have previously threatened to protest if the government fails to reconsider its approach, while manufacturers have warned that enforcement without an alternative support framework would lead to mass layoffs.
This is not the first time the sachet alcohol debate has divided the public. When the ban was first proposed in 2018, it triggered similar opposition from state governments and community groups who saw it as an elitist policy disconnected from the economic struggles of the poor. Many Nigerians rely on sachet drinks because they are cheaper and easier to purchase in small quantities. With inflation at record highs and unemployment rising, critics say the timing of the renewed enforcement could worsen poverty and social tension.
As the December 2025 deadline draws closer, the government faces the delicate task of balancing public health goals with economic realities. The tension between protecting citizens from alcohol abuse and protecting their livelihoods underscores the broader dilemma of policymaking in Nigeria’s fragile economy. Whether NAFDAC will reconsider its position remains uncertain, but what is clear is that the debate over sachet alcohol has become a microcosm of Nigeria’s struggle to regulate responsibly while sustaining growth and employment in an economy already under strain.
The agency insists that the ban will proceed as planned, yet pressure continues to mount from industry leaders, civil society, and lawmakers who believe that dialogue, not prohibition, is the path forward.
Samuel Aina