The Federal Government on Wednesday directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to suspend all enforcement actions relating to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.
It was reports that the government also warned the agency to immediately halt the sealing of factories and warehouses over the issue.
The directive was conveyed in a statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Terrence Kuanum.
According to the statement, the decision followed a joint intervention by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser, which raised concerns over the security implications of continued enforcement in the absence of 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 the final consultations and implementation of the National Alcohol Policy and the issuance of a final directive,” the statement read.
Kuanum noted that although the National Alcohol Policy had been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu, both offices insisted that NAFDAC must refrain from enforcement until the policy is fully implemented and fresh directives are issued.
The suspension covers factory shutdowns, warehouse sealing and public pronouncements emphasising the sachet alcohol ban.
The Federal Government warned that continued sealing of warehouses and what it described as a “de facto ban” on sachet alcohol products, without a harmonised policy framework, was already causing economic disruptions.
It said the enforcement was affecting jobs, supply chains and informal distribution networks nationwide, with potential security risks if left unchecked.
The statement further revealed that the SGF’s office had earlier, in December 2025, directed the suspension of all actions relating to the proposed ban pending consultations and a final decision.
Kuanum added that the SGF’s office received a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control dated November 13, 2025, referencing NASS/10/HR/CT.53/77.
The letter, signed by Deputy Chairman Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo, raised concerns over NAFDAC’s proposed enforcement actions and cited existing resolutions of the National Assembly on the matter.
The government said it is currently reviewing legislative resolutions, public health considerations, economic implications and national interest factors before taking a final position.
The involvement of the Office of the National Security Adviser, the statement noted, underscores that the matter has moved beyond regulatory concerns.
It warned that premature enforcement without coordinated policy implementation could destabilise communities, worsen unemployment and trigger broader security challenges.
The Federal Government assured Nigerians and industry stakeholders that a final decision would be communicated after consultations and inter-agency coordination, in the interest of public health, economic stability and national security.
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