BAN ON SACHET ALCOHOL: NOA, NAFDAC COMMENCE NATIONWIDE ENFORCEMENT ..... As Govt Moves For Strict Compliance, Says Offenders Will Face Consequences

DG NAFDAC, Prof. Adeyeye and Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu DG NOA during the joint press conference on the ban of sachet and alcoholic drinks in Abuja on Tuesday 

"The enforcement campaign marks the beginning of coordinated regulatory and behavioural change measures across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT." Issa-Onilu DG NOA 

"The enforcement follows resolutions of the Senate urging the Agency to ensure strict implementation of the ban and to halt further extensions of the moratorium on sachet alcohol." Prof Adeyeye, DG NAFDAC.

In a bid to ensure strict compliance on the ban of sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in bottles below 200 millilitres, nationwide, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have formally flagged off a nationwide enforcement framework.

"The framework", according to Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director General of the NOA, at the launch of a joint press conference, in collaboration with NAFDAC in Abuja, "is expected to strengthen regulatory surveillance, enhance public awareness and promote community participation in reducing underage alcohol consumption nationwide. 

The enforcement campaign marks the beginning of coordinated regulatory and behavioural change measures across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Describing the initiative as a strategic public health intervention aimed at curbing underage access to cheap, high-concentration alcohol, Issa-Onilu disclosed that, “this campaign is not about restriction for its own sake, but about safeguarding the future of young Nigerians.” 

The NOA Director General stressed that "sachet alcohol has remained inexpensive, portable and easy to conceal, making it dangerously accessible to minors.

"Under the enforcement framework, NOA will deploy its network of 818 offices across all 774 Local Government Areas to drive grassroots sensitization and compliance monitoring. Activities will include town hall meetings, market outreaches, school engagements, motor park campaigns and collaborations with faith-based institutions. Messaging will be delivered in local languages to deepen community penetration," he stated.

The DG NOA further disclosed that the Agency will also leverage television, radio, digital platforms and its CLHEEAN App to encourage citizens to report violations, while urging parents, retailers, distributors and community leaders to support enforcement efforts.

Speaking during the well attended joint press conference, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, revealed that "the enforcement follows resolutions of the Senate urging the Agency to ensure strict implementation of the ban and to halt further extensions of the moratorium on sachet alcohol.

Prof. Adeyeye reiterated that, the Federal Government's ban on the production and sale of alcohol in sachets and in PET or glass bottles smaller than 200ml, became effective January 1, 2026.

According to the NAFDAC DG, "the enforcement framework is backed by data from a 2021 nationwide survey conducted in collaboration with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, which revealed high levels of underage access to alcohol. 

"Findings revealed that over half of minors surveyed purchased alcohol themselves, with a significant percentage obtaining sachet packs and small PET bottles directly from retailers", she said.

Warning that early exposure to alcohol increases risks of addiction, poor academic performance, road crashes, risky sexual behaviour and long-term mental health challenges, the NAFDAC boss cited global medical evidence, while further adding that alcohol consumption damages the developing brain, particularly areas responsible for memory and impulse control.

"The enforcement would not only focus on production and distribution channels but also on retail outlets found violating the ban.

"The framework is expected to strengthen regulatory surveillance, enhance public awareness and promote community participation in reducing underage alcohol consumption nationwide." Prof. Adeyeye stressed 

Officials described the flag-off as a decisive step toward protecting vulnerable populations and reinforcing compliance with Nigeria’s public health regulations.