The Senate has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to fully enforce the ban on high-strength alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and small plastic bottles by December 2025, warning that no further extension of the deadline will be tolerated.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong (Cross River South), who raised concerns over renewed lobbying by some manufacturers to push for another extension of the ban.
Ekpeyong reminded his colleagues that the ban, introduced by NAFDAC in 2018 after extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), was in line with global best practices and aimed at protecting public health.
“The affordability and portability of these sachet drinks have made them dangerously accessible to children, teenagers, commercial drivers and other vulnerable groups,” Ekpeyong said.
“They fuel addiction, reckless behaviour, domestic violence and long-term health complications. We cannot continue to normalise cheap intoxication just because it is conveniently packaged.”
He recalled that after the initial five-year phase-out agreement expired in 2023, the Federal Government approved a one-year moratorium to allow manufacturers to clear existing stocks, setting the final deadline at December 2025.
The senator, however, warned that ongoing lobbying for another extension was “an attempt to undermine regulatory authority and endanger public safety.”
Following the debate, the Senate resolved that NAFDAC must strictly implement the ban without bureaucratic or political interference. It also directed the Federal Ministry of Health to remove any obstacles hindering the agency’s enforcement efforts.
Lawmakers further urged the ministry to expedite the release of the National Alcohol Policy, which is expected to institutionalise the ban and guide nationwide public sensitisation campaigns.
Senators stressed that the health and safety of Nigerians must take precedence over economic or industrial considerations.
“Public health is not negotiable,” one lawmaker said during plenary. “It is the duty of the government to protect citizens from harmful products, not to pander to profit motives.”
The move comes amid growing public concern about the proliferation of sachet and small-sized alcoholic beverages across the country, which many health experts have linked to rising cases of alcohol dependence, road crashes and violent crimes.
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