Senate Orders NAFDAC to Enforce December 2025 Ban on Sachet and Small-Bottle Alcoholic Drinks

The Senate has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) not to grant any further extension beyond the December 31, 2025 deadline for banning the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small-volume PET bottles.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South) during Thursday’s plenary.

Ekpenyong explained that the timeline aligns with international regulatory standards designed to minimize alcohol-related harm in Nigeria. He reminded the chamber that in 2018, the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and key industry bodies—including the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers—signed a five-year agreement to phase out sachet and mini-bottle alcoholic drinks. The agreement sought to curb the widespread abuse of cheap, high-alcohol-content products among young Nigerians.

He noted that the Federal Government had earlier granted a one-year moratorium in 2024 for manufacturers to clear old stock and transition to compliant packaging but cautioned that some producers were now lobbying for an additional extension.

“As the December 2025 deadline draws near, certain manufacturers are lobbying for another delay, undermining the regulatory process and putting public health at risk,” Ekpenyong warned.

He stated that the continued sale of sachet and mini alcoholic beverages contributes to addiction, impaired learning, school dropouts, domestic violence, and an increase in road accidents involving commercial drivers and teenagers. He added that manufacturers who have complied in good faith are being unfairly disadvantaged by those still producing banned formats.

During the debate, several lawmakers supported the motion, emphasizing the need for strict enforcement and continuous public awareness campaigns. Senator Anthony Ani (Ebonyi South) described the situation as a worsening public health crisis, stressing that “the easy availability of cheap alcohol is fueling social decay, and urgent action is required to protect our youth.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio endorsed the motion, calling for decisive enforcement of the ban to safeguard young Nigerians. “This is a matter of urgency,” he said. “NAFDAC must act firmly to protect citizens from the dangers of unregulated alcohol consumption.”

NAFDAC, under its Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, began enforcing the policy in January 2024 by sealing factories and seizing non-compliant products. The agency maintains that sachet and mini-bottle drinks are often targeted at young consumers due to their affordability and ease of concealment.

Despite opposition from some manufacturers, NAFDAC has insisted that the policy will not be reversed, citing its importance in reducing substance abuse, underage drinking, and addiction nationwide.