Manufacturers React to NAFDAC Ban of Sachet Alcoholic Beverages, Call for Reconsideration of Decision

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has voiced strong opposition to the recent directive by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ban the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles by December 31, 2025. The move follows a resolution reportedly passed by the Nigerian Senate on November 6, 2025.

Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director General of MAN, expressed concern over the abrupt decision, emphasizing that it contradicts previous collaborative efforts among stakeholders. “It is concerning to note that this unexpected development is dissonant to all stakeholders’ efforts on the matter and completely at variance with the subsisting position of the House of Representatives on the same matter,” he stated.

Ajayi-Kadir highlighted that the Ministry of Health had earlier granted a one-year extension, which facilitated the consideration and validation of the draft National Alcohol Policy by relevant stakeholders. He argued that such an important decision should have involved broader stakeholder consultation, including public hearings or focused meetings with industry representatives, before being enforced. “This was the route that was painstakingly followed by the House of Representatives in the recent past,” he added.

The MAN chief noted that the issues surrounding the ban had already been addressed by an inclusive committee comprising industry stakeholders and NAFDAC representatives, which validated the National Alcohol Policy in October 2025. The policy includes several key recommendations, such as multi-sectoral action plans, stricter enforcement, the establishment of licensed outlets across local governments, increased monitoring and compliance checks, and educational campaigns targeting underage drinking.

Ajayi-Kadir also dismissed claims linking sachet alcohol to underage abuse, citing independent research that contradicts such assertions. “The industry has even gone further, notwithstanding the report of the surveys, to initiate a series of campaigns in respect of responsible alcohol consumption in order to discourage underage abuse,” he said, noting that over a billion Naira has been spent on media campaigns to promote responsible drinking.

Furthermore, the MAN Director General argued that the Senate’s blanket ban is unfair and undermines the collaborative process that led to the current policy framework. “It is our position that NAFDAC should have presented its opinion during the validation process rather than bypassing these procedures and approaching the National Assembly directly.”

He warned of the significant economic repercussions the ban could entail, including the potential loss of over N1.9 trillion in investments, the termination of more than 500,000 direct jobs, and the collapse of local businesses that contribute to Nigeria’s economy. “The prohibition would also reduce capacity utilization in manufacturing, which has been gradually improving, and threaten the growth of indigenous entrepreneurship.”

Ajayi-Kadir emphasized that sachet alcohol serves a vital role by providing affordable options for consumers with low budgets, and that banning it could inadvertently promote illicit and unregulated markets. “Once there is an established appetite for a product and it is not illegal, effective control and regulation are the most sustainable ways to manage access, not outright bans.”

He further pointed out that licensed local producers adhere to hygienic standards, and that banning sachet alcohol could lead to a surge in unregulated imports, often smuggled and unsafe for consumers. “This will be at the expense of domestic producers and government revenue.”

In conclusion, Ajayi-Kadir called for the swift endorsement and implementation of the Nigeria National Alcohol Policy and its multi-sectoral framework, which he believes would render the ban unnecessary. “We appeal to the Senate to rescind the order on the ban and for NAFDAC to be restrained from implementing it from December 31, 2025. We must consider the broader economic implications of such abrupt regulatory shifts.”

He reaffirmed MAN’s commitment to supporting safe, responsible alcohol consumption and noted that the industry remains vigilant in ensuring compliance with all regulations. “MAN has always supported measures that remove unsafe products from the market. We have only maintained that such decisions should be supported by empirical facts and not emotional persuasions or appeals to guided public emotions.”