The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to suspend all enforcement activities linked to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic drinks.
Grassroots Parrot reports that the government also instructed the agency to immediately stop sealing factories and warehouses over the matter.
The directive was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Terrence Kuanum.
He explained that the decision followed a joint intervention by the Office of the SGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which raised concerns about the security implications of continued enforcement without a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy.
“Accordingly, all actions, decisions, or enforcement measures relating to the ongoing ban on sachet alcohol are to be suspended pending final consultations, full implementation of the National Alcohol Policy, and the issuance of a final directive,” the statement said.
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Kuanum noted that although the National Alcohol Policy has been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive, both the SGF’s office and ONSA insisted that NAFDAC must refrain from enforcement until the policy is fully operational and further instructions are issued.
The government clarified that the suspension covers factory shutdowns, warehouse sealing, and public campaigns emphasising the sachet alcohol ban.
According to the statement, the continued sealing of warehouses and what it described as a “de facto ban” without a harmonised policy framework was already causing economic disruptions and posing security risks, particularly affecting jobs, supply chains, and informal distribution networks across the country.
Kuanum said the latest position reinforces an earlier directive issued by the SGF’s office in December 2025, which had also suspended actions related to the proposed ban pending consultations and a final decision.
He added that the SGF’s office had received a letter 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 Deputy Chairman of the committee, Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo, expressed concerns over NAFDAC’s proposed enforcement measures and cited existing National Assembly resolutions on the issue.
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The Federal Government said it is reviewing legislative resolutions, public health considerations, economic implications, and broader national interest concerns surrounding the matter.
It added that the involvement of the National Security Adviser shows the issue has moved beyond regulatory concerns, warning that premature enforcement without coordinated policy implementation could destabilise communities, worsen unemployment, and trigger security challenges.
The government assured Nigerians and industry stakeholders that a final decision would be communicated after consultations and inter-agency coordination, with due consideration for public health, economic stability, and national security.