FG clarifies stance on sachet alcohol ban enforcement

By Omeiza Ajayi, ABUJA

The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has clarified that no new directive has been issued to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) regarding the enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol and 200 ml PET bottles.

The clarification followed the widespread circulation of a report suggesting a fresh intervention by the OSGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to halt NAFDAC’s enforcement actions.

Speaking to Vanguard on Thursday, Terrence Kuanam, the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, told Vanguard that the statement currently in the public domain was an old document originally issued in December 2025.

He attributed the confusion to an error in communication and a recent news analysis that led many to believe a new order had been signed this week.

Addressing the current status of the matter, Mr Kuanam revealed that the OSGF is still awaiting critical feedback from NAFDAC before taking any further steps.

He noted that while the Federal Ministry of Health has already provided its position on the ban, the regulatory agency is yet to respond to an inquiry sent by the OSGF in November.

Kuanam said, “We wrote NAFDAC and the Health Ministry in November to give us an informed position on the matter. The minister has responded, but NAFDAC has not responded. So, until they respond, the OSGF will determine the next line of action on the matter.”

According to him, the current statement circulating with regard to asking NAFDAC to halt enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol was issued in December, but an error in communication had led to its currently being re-circulated.

The OSGF had previously expressed concerns that enforcement actions, such as the sealing of factories and warehouses, could trigger economic disruptions and security risks in the absence of a fully operationalised National Alcohol Policy.

The office emphasised that until NAFDAC submits its formal response to the correspondence sent last year, the OSGF cannot determine the final line of action regarding the controversial ban.

The initial intervention by the SGF and the National Security Adviser was prompted by the need to balance public health goals with economic stability, particularly concerning employment and informal distribution networks.

Despite the recirculated reports, the government maintains that a harmonised framework remains a prerequisite for the full implementation of the policy.

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