The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has not been officially served with any court order restraining it from enforcing the ban on sachet alcohol.
The Director-General of the agency, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, made the clarification on Friday during an interview on ARISE News, following reports that a court injunction had halted the enforcement exercise.
According to her, no such order has been communicated to the agency. She explained that enforcement resumed based on legislative backing, noting that the National Assembly had directed NAFDAC to proceed.
Adeyeye defended the ban, stressing that the policy is driven by public health concerns, particularly the protection of children, and not an attempt to undermine legitimate businesses. She said the agency’s priority is to prevent underage access to high-concentration alcohol products.
She explained that sachet alcohol, some with alcohol content as high as 43 to 45 per cent, poses serious risks because of how easily it can be concealed and accessed by minors.
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She added that alcohol remains within NAFDAC’s regulatory mandate as a food product, clarifying that the agency is not banning alcohol entirely but restricting its sale in small sachet packaging.
Tracing the policy back to 2018, the NAFDAC boss said the agency had engaged manufacturers over several years, under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Health, and granted them a five-year window to reorganise production and distribution.
She noted that although the initial moratorium ended in January 2024, it was extended following interventions from lawmakers and industry stakeholders, with the final extension expiring in December 2025. Despite further requests from manufacturers, enforcement resumed after Senate intervention.
Adeyeye dismissed suggestions that warning labels could effectively prevent underage drinking, arguing that such measures are difficult to enforce in practice. She also said the policy aligns with Nigeria’s commitments under international agreements to reduce alcohol access among vulnerable groups.
Responding to criticisms that NAFDAC continued to register sachet alcohol products during the moratorium, she said the agency acted in line with legislative directives at the time, adding that lessons have since been learned.
She further explained that the issue is not solely the alcohol content but the size and portability of the sachets, which make them easy for children to hide and abuse. Citing reports from school authorities, she warned of growing cases of alcohol dependence among students.
Adeyeye clarified that enforcement actions are focused on shutting down specific production lines involved in sachet alcohol, not entire companies. She also rejected claims of inadequate consultation, saying NAFDAC held regular meetings with manufacturers’ associations.
Reiterating her position, she accused industry groups opposing the ban of placing profit above public health, insisting that the welfare of children must take precedence over commercial interests.
