MAN Raises Alarm Over Trillion-Naira Losses as Sachet Alcohol Ban Looms

Concerns are rising in the manufacturing sector as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria says the proposed ban on alcohol packaged in sachets and small PET bottles could trigger massive economic losses and threaten millions of livelihoods across the country.

The association’s warning follows the recent directive of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control which plans to enforce the ban by December 31 2025. This action stems from a resolution adopted by the Senate during its sitting on November 6 2025.

In a statement issued yesterday MAN Director General Segun Ajayi-Kadir urged authorities to reverse the decision. He explained that stakeholders including NAFDAC had previously reached a consensus on the matter after validating the National Alcohol Policy in October 2025.

He stressed that claims linking sachet alcohol to increased access for underage consumers have been disproven by several independent studies conducted by government agencies.

Ajayi-Kadir described the planned prohibition as harmful to the nation’s fragile economic stability. He warned that it could wipe out over N1.9 trillion worth of investments mostly owned by local companies and force the retrenchment of more than 500,000 workers along with about 5 million indirect jobs across supply chains.

He added that manufacturing capacity which only recently began to gain traction could slump again with devastating consequences for the food and beverages sector. According to him the policy risks eroding indigenous enterprises and weakening local entrepreneurship.

The MAN chief also cautioned that a ban could open the market to foreign alcoholic products many of which enter the country through smuggling with safety risks and revenue losses for government.

He appealed for swift approval and execution of the validated National Alcohol Policy and its multi-sectoral implementation plan arguing that proper implementation of the framework makes the proposed ban unnecessary.