FG orders NAFDAC to halt sachet alcohol ban enforcement citing economic, security risks

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: The Federal Government has ordered to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC, ordering an immediate cessation of all enforcement actions regarding the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products.

The directive, a joint intervention by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation OSGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser ONSA, cited grave concerns over economic stability and potential security threats.

Both offices warned that continued enforcement, in the absence of a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy, could “destabilize communities, worsen unemployment, and trigger avoidable security challenges.”

In a statement released by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, the government clarified that while the National Alcohol Policy has been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health under the direction of President Bola Tinubu, NAFDAC must refrain from sealing factories or warehouses until the policy is fully operationalized.

The SGF and NSA emphasized that the current “de facto banning” of these products without a harmonized framework is creating significant disruptions.

“The continued sealing of warehouses and de facto banning of sachet alcohol products… is already creating economic disruptions and poses a growing security threat, particularly given the impact on employment, supply chains, and informal distribution networks across the country,” the statement warned.

The OSGF further revealed that its decision was influenced by correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control, dated November 13, 2025.

The letter, signed by Deputy Chairman Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, highlighted existing National Assembly resolutions that cautioned against the proposed ban.

Reaffirming a previous suspension issued in December 2025, the OSGF stated its role in reviewing legislative, public health, and economic factors before a final decision is reached.

“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 emphasized.

The Federal Government also took the step of declaring any unauthorized actions by NAFDAC as “invalid,” urging the public and industry stakeholders to disregard any enforcement measures not cleared by the OSGF.

The statement assured Nigerians that a “final, balanced, and lawful decision” would be communicated in due course, prioritizing public health alongside national security and economic stability.

The post FG orders NAFDAC to halt sachet alcohol ban enforcement citing economic, security risks appeared first on Vanguard News.