The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has resumed enforcement of its ban on alcoholic beverages sold in small containers under 200 millilitres, citing a surge in underage drinking and alcohol-related social issues.
In a statement on Thursday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized that the ban targets only the production and sale of spirit drinks in small sachets, and no alcohol companies have been shut down.
She noted that the proliferation of cheap, easily concealed sachet alcohol has contributed to addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, and other social vices, particularly among young people.
The move has sparked protests from industry groups and labour organizations, which warn that the ban could jeopardize jobs across the alcohol value chain, affecting factory workers, distributors, and small-scale vendors, and raising concerns about its broader economic impact.
NAFDAC stressed that the enforcement follows a five-year agreement reached in 2018 with alcohol manufacturers, alongside the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The agreement had previously allowed time for stock clearance and production adjustments.
Safiya Muhammed Bello
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