The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has directed that all enforcement actions related to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol products be suspended until further notice.
The directive followed an official correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drug Administration and Control concerning plans by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to enforce the ban.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Terrence Kuanum, the OSGF said the correspondence, dated November 13, 2025, and signed by the committee’s deputy chairman, Uchenna Okonkwo, is currently under review. The office said it was considering the matter in line with its statutory coordinating role as chairman of the Cabinet Secretariat.
Accordingly, the OSGF directed that all actions, decisions, or enforcement measures relating to the proposed sachet alcohol ban be put on hold pending the conclusion of consultations and the issuance of a final directive by the office.
The statement further clarified that any action taken by NAFDAC or any other agency on the matter without due clearance and resolution by the OSGF is of no effect and should be disregarded by the public until a final decision is formally communicated.
The OSGF assured Nigerians that all relevant legislative resolutions, economic implications, public health concerns, and broader national interest considerations were being carefully examined to ensure a balanced, lawful, and well-coordinated outcome, adding that the public would be duly informed once a final position is reached.
The development comes after NAFDAC announced that the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and bottles smaller than 200 millilitres would be prohibited by December 2025. The agency’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, said the move was aimed at curbing the misuse of cheap alcoholic drinks, particularly among youths and commercial drivers.
The directive from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation follows renewed pressure from the National Assembly, which has repeatedly called on NAFDAC to suspend enforcement of the ban in line with resolutions passed since 2024. A December 1, 2025 letter from the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Mohammed Danjuma, to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, and the NAFDAC Director-General, referenced concerns raised by the House Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control.
The letter requested comments from the relevant authorities to enable the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to take an informed decision on the matter.
Earlier, the Senate had approved a December 31, 2025 phase-out deadline following a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong of Cross River South, who said the timeline aligned with global standards and was intended to reduce alcohol-related harm.
