NECA Advocates for Evidence-Based Regulation and Due Process in Sachet Alcohol Ban
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, has expressed deep concern over the renewed enforcement by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, of a ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles. NECA describes this move as a serious regulatory misstep with significant economic and governance consequences.
In a statement signed by the Director General of NECA, Wale-Smatt Oyerinde, the association pointed out that the recent enforcement directly contradicts the directive from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation dated 15 December 2025, which suspended the ban. It also conflicts with the resolution passed by the House of Representatives on 14 March 2024, advocating for restraint and broader stakeholder engagement.
The statement further highlighted that ongoing enforcement is already disrupting legitimate businesses, unsettling investments, risking thousands of jobs, and undermining confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory stability—an especially critical issue for investor trust.
“NECA unequivocally supports the protection of minors, the removal of unsafe products from the market, and the pursuit of strong public health outcomes. However, the current approach is misdirected. It disproportionately targets compliant and regulated manufacturers while failing to address the real drivers of underage access and the growing challenge of illicit substance abuse across the country,” he said.
Oyerinde emphasized that regulation must be rooted in evidence, proportionality, and the rule of law. He stated that punishing compliant companies or criminalizing products that have passed regulatory approval while ignoring gaps in retail enforcement and the proliferation of unregulated, more dangerous substances is unacceptable. Nigeria needs smarter, data-driven enforcement—rather than blanket bans that destroy jobs, discourage investment, and fail to address the root causes.
He clarified that the targeted alcoholic products were tested, registered, and periodically revalidated following NAFDAC’s scientific procedures. Their alcohol content, measured by Alcohol by Volume (ABV), falls within internationally recognized ranges for spirits, and labels clearly indicate this information in accordance with Nigeria’s regulations. Labeling such products as inherently dangerous without new, transparent scientific evidence raises serious questions about regulatory consistency and fairness.
On underage drinking, Oyerinde stressed that access control is an enforcement issue, not a packaging issue. Alcoholic beverages already carry warnings indicating they are not for persons under 18 and should be consumed responsibly. When minors access alcohol, the problem lies in weak retail monitoring and poor enforcement of age restrictions. Addressing this requires stricter licensing, compliance checks, and sanctions for errant retailers, not the removal of packaging formats that serve adult consumers lawfully.
He further explained that sachet and small pack formats are essential for affordability within Nigeria’s economic context, where many adults make small, daily purchases. Banning these formats will not eliminate demand but may push consumers toward unregulated alternatives, increasing health risks and shrinking the formal economy.
Additionally, NECA expressed concern that enforcement efforts are disproportionately focused on compliant segments of the beverage industry. Meanwhile, Nigeria continues to grapple with the proliferation of dangerous substances among youth, including illicit narcotics and abused pharmaceuticals. Focusing enforcement solely on regulated manufacturers while unregulated, harmful products circulate freely exemplifies a misalignment of policy priorities.
“The economic consequences of the ban are significant. The wines and spirits value chain supports large numbers of direct and indirect jobs across manufacturing, packaging, distribution, transportation, retail, and agriculture. At a time when businesses are grappling with high operating costs, currency pressures, and weak consumer purchasing power, sudden regulatory shocks threaten livelihoods, reduce government revenue