The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately suspend all enforcement actions related to the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products.
In a joint intervention, the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the National Security Adviser (ONSA) cited concerns over economic stability and potential security risks as reasons for the directive. The statement, signed by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, warned that continuing enforcement in the absence of a fully operational National Alcohol Policy could destabilize communities, worsen unemployment, and trigger avoidable security challenges.
The government noted that while the National Alcohol Policy has been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health under President Bola Tinubu’s directive, NAFDAC must refrain from sealing factories or warehouses until the policy is fully implemented. The statement described the current “de facto banning” of these products as causing economic disruptions, affecting employment, supply chains, and informal distribution networks.
The decision followed correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control, which highlighted existing National Assembly resolutions cautioning against the ban. Reaffirming a previous suspension issued in December 2025, the government emphasized that all enforcement measures are to remain suspended pending final consultations and the formal rollout of the National Alcohol Policy.