NAFDAC DG Defends Sachet Alcohol Ban, Stresses Child Protection Over Trade Interests

The Director-General of Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, has strongly defended the nationwide ban on sachet and small‑volume alcoholic beverages, insisting that the policy is necessary to protect children and uphold public health standards.

Speaking during a live interview on the Arise News Morning Show, Prof. Adeyeye challenged criticism from the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other stakeholders, who argue that the ban threatens millions of livelihoods and should be replaced with stricter regulation rather than prohibition.

“We are doing this because of children,” she said. “We cannot sacrifice our children on the altar of trade.”

Five‑Year Moratorium and Legislative Twists
Prof. Adeyeye detailed the long and contentious history behind the ban, revealing that NAFDAC began engaging manufacturers as early as 2018 when it became clear that alcohol packaged in sachets was easily accessible to minors. She recalled learning of the packaging format only after assuming office, describing sachets as a product that “a child can easily conceal”.

The timeline she outlined included:
• An agreement with producers to reduce alcohol concentration and gradually phase out sachet packaging.
• A five‑year moratorium, intended to give businesses time to adapt, which expired on 31 January 2024.
• MAN’s appeal to the House of Representatives, leading to a suspension of enforcement.
• A heated 2025 House committee hearing during which some producers claimed they had been coerced into the earlier agreement.
• A Senate directive ordering NAFDAC to resume enforcement, after observing attempts to extend the moratorium further.
• A final one‑year extension expiring in December 2025.

Throughout this period, NAFDAC continued to register some small‑volume alcohol products, assuming this was consistent with legislative guidance. Prof Adeyeye said the agency now recognizes this was a mistake: “We didn’t know they were going to use it against us… Now we realize we shouldn’t have registered such products during the moratorium.”

Health Risks and Enforcement Challenges
Prof. Adeyeye highlighted scientific evidence showing that children exposed to alcohol at an early age face significantly increased risks of liver cirrhosis in their 30s and 40s, due to differences in metabolism and organ development.

She dismissed proposals to rely on age‑restricted labelling or identification checks as unrealistic in the current Nigerian context. “In Nigeria? Are we kidding ourselves?” she asked.

“These sachet alcohols are sold in buckets, in garages. Do we have digitised National ID that traders in Ojota can use to check?”

The ban, she emphasised, applies only to sachet and small‑volume packaging. Manufacturers remain free to produce and sell alcohol in larger bottles, and NAFDAC continues to approve compliant products.

International Commitments and Regulatory Philosophy
Nigeria is among 193 countries that endorsed the 2010 World Health Assembly resolution to restrict alcohol accessibility to vulnerable groups. Prof Adeyeye questioned why enforcement has lagged: “What are we doing about it?”

She defended NAFDAC’s regulatory approach, noting that the agency has attracted roughly US$2 billion in investment into Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing sector since 2018. According to her, the agency’s priority remains safeguarding health, even when commercial interests push back.

Relationship with Manufacturers’ Association Unravels
Prof Adeyeye expressed disappointment with the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria, saying the relationship had once been constructive. “We were shocked when they took us to the legislature,” she said. “They are all about money, not about health.”

She added that to her knowledge, NAFDAC has not been served any court order suspending enforcement and would continue to comply with Senate directives.

Broader Impact and Rising Tensions
The debate has intensified nationwide, with protests at NAFDAC offices and warnings from civil society organisations and labour unions. Some groups claim that up to 5.5 million jobs across the sachet alcohol value chain could be affected if the ban continues.

The controversy underscores the ongoing national struggle to balance public health priorities, economic pressures, and the realities of Nigeria’s informal retail landscape.