The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the Federal Government to reverse its planned ban on the production and sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets and small PET bottles, warning that the policy could cripple local industries, erode investments, and push millions of Nigerians into unemployment.
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, the association described the move as “counterproductive and economically damaging,” arguing that it runs contrary to previous stakeholder agreements and a resolution by the House of Representatives calling for a review of the decision.
According to Ajayi-Kadir, the planned enforcement by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) — scheduled to take effect on December 31, 2025 — would lead to the loss of over ₦1.9 trillion in investments, the retrenchment of 500,000 direct employees, and five million indirect job losses across the value chain.
He said the ban would undermine the progress recently achieved in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector and discourage indigenous entrepreneurs.
“This directive will reverse years of hard-won industrial growth, destabilise local enterprises, and compound the country’s unemployment challenges,” Ajayi-Kadir said.
The MAN boss also faulted the justification that sachet alcohol contributes to underage drinking and reckless consumption, saying multiple government-commissioned studies had debunked such claims.
He maintained that manufacturers have already implemented responsible consumption campaigns targeted at discouraging youth access to alcohol.
“The directive contradicts scientific evidence and disregards the ongoing collaborative efforts among stakeholders to address alcohol misuse through education, not prohibition,” he added.
Ajayi-Kadir further warned that enforcing the ban could worsen Nigeria’s economic challenges by creating a vacuum that would be filled by unregulated and illicit alcoholic beverages.
He explained that the move could open the market to smuggled foreign brands, deprive the government of legitimate tax revenue, and threaten product safety.
“Locally produced sachet alcohol is manufactured under hygienic conditions and certified by regulatory authorities,” he stressed. “A ban will only drive consumers toward unsafe, unregulated products.”
MAN, therefore, appealed to the Senate to intervene by suspending NAFDAC’s planned enforcement and by approving the Nigeria National Alcohol Policy, which it said promotes a balanced approach between public health and economic sustainability.
Ajayi-Kadir reaffirmed the association’s commitment to safety compliance, responsible marketing, and continued collaboration with government agencies to address misuse without jeopardising livelihoods.
“We are not against regulation,” he said, “but against policies that destroy businesses, stifle innovation, and push Nigerians into poverty.”
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