The Senate has demanded the enforcement of ban on packaging high-strength alcoholic beverages in sachet formats starting December 2025.
The Senate ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other relevant regulatory bodies to fully enforce the ban as it emphasized that no further extension beyond the current moratorium would be allowed.
The directive follows the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, which called for an end to any additional delays in phasing out sachet-packaged alcoholic beverages.
During plenary, Senator Ekpeyong noted that NAFDAC, following international best practices and consultations with industry stakeholders, had announced a phased ban on the importation, manufacture, and distribution of alcohol in sachets.
He recalled that in 2018, stakeholders including the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), NAFDAC, and industry groups such as the Association of Food, Beverage & Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU committed to gradually phasing out sachet-packaged alcohol due to concerns over affordability, portability, and accessibility, particularly among children, adolescents, commercial drivers, and other vulnerable groups.
Although the initial deadline had passed, the Federal Government granted manufacturers a one-year extension in 2024 to allow them to exhaust existing stock and transition to compliant packaging, extending the phase-out to December 2025.
Senator Ekpeyong expressed concern that some manufacturers are lobbying for another extension, a move he said undermines regulatory authority, threatens public health, and distorts fair competition. He warned that continued production of high-strength alcohol in sachets contributes to youth addiction, road accidents, school dropouts, domestic violence, and other social ills.
The Senate also directed the Federal Ministry of Health to remove any barriers preventing NAFDAC from enforcing the ban. Lawmakers urged the Ministry to expedite the release of the National Alcohol Policy, which should clearly prohibit sachet packaging of high-strength alcohol and support coordinated public awareness campaigns.
