Senate Orders NAFDAC to Ban Sachet Alcoholic Drinks by December 31

The Nigerian Senate has issued a firm directive to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to completely halt the production and sale of sachet and small bottled alcoholic beverages by December 31, 2025.

Lawmakers warned that the cheap, high-alcohol drinks have become a major threat to public health and safety, particularly among young Nigerians. They said the products are fueling addiction, violence, and road accidents nationwide.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), who urged the Senate to ensure the long-delayed ban is finally implemented. Ekpenyong criticized NAFDAC for repeatedly extending the phase-out deadline under pressure from manufacturers, saying any further delay would “betray public trust” and undermine Nigeria’s commitment to protecting citizens’ health.

“Packaging alcohol in sachets makes it as easy to consume as sweets, even for children,” Ekpenyong said. “It destroys futures, fuels domestic violence, and endangers lives daily on our roads.”

The motion enjoyed broad bipartisan support. Lawmakers described sachet alcohol as a “silent epidemic” spreading in schools, markets, and motor parks.

Senator Anthony Ani (Ebonyi South) likened the proliferation of the drinks to “a slow poison spreading among the youth,” warning that many of the products contain dangerously high alcohol content and are cheap enough for minors to purchase.

Nigeria had earlier signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2018 among NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, and industry groups to phase out sachet alcohol by 2023. However, the deadline was extended to 2025 to give manufacturers time to adjust.

Senators, however, expressed outrage that some producers were still lobbying for further extensions, calling such moves a direct challenge to regulatory authority and a danger to national well-being.

In his closing remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the unanimous decision, describing it as “a moral and patriotic step to safeguard the future of Nigeria.”