The Federal Government has reaffirmed the suspension of all enforcement actions relating to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products, directing the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately cease further factory shutdowns and warehouse sealing.
The renewed directive follows a joint intervention by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), both of which raised serious concerns over the security implications of continued enforcement actions in the absence of a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy.
According to the OSGF and NSA, the National Alcohol Policy has been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive. However, they emphasized that until the policy is fully operationalized and further guidance is issued by the Office of the SGF, NAFDAC must refrain from all enforcement measures, including factory closures, warehouse sealing, and public emphasis on the sachet alcohol ban.
The two offices warned that continued sealing of warehouses and the de facto banning of sachet alcohol products, without a harmonized policy framework, is already causing economic disruptions and poses potential security risks. They noted that enforcement actions could negatively impact employment, disrupt supply chains, and destabilize informal distribution networks nationwide.
The position reinforces an earlier directive issued by the Office of the SGF in December 2025, which formally suspended all actions relating to the proposed ban pending consultations and a final government decision.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, Terrence Kuanum, the OSGF disclosed that it had received official correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control dated November 13, 2025. The letter, referenced NASS/10/HR/CT.53/77 and signed by the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, expressed concerns over NAFDAC’s proposed enforcement actions and drew attention to existing resolutions of the National Assembly.
The OSGF stated that, in line with its statutory role as Chairman of the Cabinet Secretariat, it is currently reviewing legislative resolutions, public health considerations, economic implications, and broader national interest factors surrounding the matter.
“Accordingly, all actions, decisions, or enforcement measures relating to the ongoing ban on sachet alcohol are to be suspended pending final consultations and implementation of the National Alcohol Policy, as well as the issuance of a final directive,” the statement said.
The Office further clarified that any enforcement action carried out by NAFDAC or any other agency without due clearance and resolution from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is invalid and should be disregarded by the public until an official position is formally communicated.
With the latest intervention by the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Federal Government has elevated the issue beyond regulatory concerns, warning that premature enforcement without coordinated policy implementation could destabilize communities, worsen unemployment, and trigger avoidable security challenges.
The SGF and NSA reiterated that NAFDAC is expected to immediately halt further enforcement actions or public emphasis on the sachet alcohol ban until the National Alcohol Policy is fully operationalized and further directives are issued.
The Federal Government assured Nigerians and industry stakeholders that a final, balanced, and lawful decision would be communicated after comprehensive consultations and inter-agency coordination, in the overall interest of public health, economic stability, and national security.
