The Federal Government has directed the immediate suspension of all actions and enforcement measures linked to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol products by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The directive, which puts the controversial policy on hold, will remain in force pending the conclusion of consultations and the issuance of a final government position on the matter.
The order was issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in response to official correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control.
According to a statement released on Monday, December 15, the letter, dated November 13, 2025, was signed by the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, and drew attention to existing resolutions of the National Assembly on the proposed sachet alcohol ban.
The OSGF explained that the matter is currently under review in line with its statutory coordinating role as Chairman of the Cabinet Secretariat.
Consequently, all relevant agencies have been directed to halt enforcement actions and suspend any decisions related to the ban until consultations are completed and a final directive is formally issued.
“For the avoidance of doubt, any action or enforcement undertaken by NAFDAC or any other agency on this matter without due clearance and resolution by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is of no effect and should be disregarded by the public,” the statement read.
The Federal Government assured Nigerians that the decision to pause enforcement was guided by the need for a thorough and balanced review of all relevant factors.
It said legislative resolutions, economic implications, public health concerns and broader national interest considerations were being carefully examined to arrive at a lawful and equitable outcome.
The OSGF added that members of the public would be duly informed once a final decision has been reached.
The statement was signed by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Terrence Kuanum, and dated December 15, 2025.
The proposed ban on sachet alcohol did not emerge suddenly. Its origins can be traced back several years to rising public health concerns over the widespread availability of ultra-cheap alcoholic drinks sold in small sachets and PET bottles.
Regulators had argued that such products were easily accessible to minors and vulnerable groups, contributing to alcohol abuse, road accidents, domestic violence and long-term health risks.
NAFDAC had first signalled its intentions through stakeholder engagements and policy pronouncements, followed by phased timelines, warnings to manufacturers and distributors, and multiple postponed deadlines to allow industry players to adjust.
However, resistance soon mounted from labour unions, traders and manufacturers, who warned that a total ban would lead to job losses, business closures and wider economic dislocation.
By the time enforcement drew near, the issue had evolved from a regulatory decision into a full-blown national debate, pitching public health concerns against economic realities and paving the way for political and legislative intervention, an intervention that has now forced a pause in the implementation of the ban.
