NAFDAC, NOA Step Up Campaign Against Underage Drinking

The Federal Government has intensified its crackdown on underage alcohol consumption as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) launched a renewed nationwide awareness campaign targeting minors.

The initiative, unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja in collaboration with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), seeks to strengthen enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic drinks packaged in bottles smaller than 200 millilitres.

Speaking at the launch, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, said the renewed drive is aimed at protecting Nigerian children from the harmful effects of alcohol abuse. She noted that alcohol remains one of the most commonly abused substances among young people, largely due to its affordability, easy accessibility, and small packaging, which makes it easy to conceal.

According to Adeyeye, studies over the years have shown a steady increase in alcohol production, importation, and consumption across various age groups. However, she stressed that the agency is particularly concerned about minors.

“We are here for our children. Our presence today is to ensure that the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres is strictly enforced in the interest of public health and the future of our nation,” she said.

She recalled that manufacturers were granted a five-year moratorium in 2018 to phase out sachet alcohol production. Following the expiration of the extensions and in line with Senate directives, NAFDAC resumed full enforcement of the ban in accordance with its legal mandate.

The NAFDAC boss referenced a 2021 nationwide survey which revealed troubling levels of access to alcohol among minors. She disclosed that 54.3 per cent of underage respondents obtained alcohol on their own, while nearly half admitted purchasing sachet or small-bottle products.

Adeyeye warned that early exposure to alcohol could negatively affect brain development and increase the risk of addiction, poor academic performance, violence, accidents, and long-term health complications.

Also speaking at the event, NOA Director-General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, described the campaign as a collective effort to safeguard consumers and encourage responsible behaviour nationwide. He explained that the ban on sachet alcohol is a deliberate public health measure aimed at limiting children’s access to cheap and potent alcoholic beverages.

“For too long, sachet alcohol has been dangerously accessible. It is cheap, portable, and easy to hide,” Issa-Onilu stated.

He emphasised that the initiative is focused on prevention rather than punishment.

“No country thrives when its young population is trapped in preventable addiction. Protecting our children today is an investment in Nigeria’s future stability and productivity,” he added.

Issa-Onilu further disclosed that NOA would leverage its nationwide network, including offices in all 774 local government areas, to spread awareness in markets, schools, motor parks, youth centres, and religious institutions. The agency will also utilise both traditional and digital media platforms to sustain the campaign.

In addition, he announced that the NOA CLHEEAN App, available on Android and iOS platforms, would be deployed to enable citizens to report violations and support enforcement efforts within their communities.

Both NAFDAC and NOA called on parents, community leaders, retailers, and the general public to support the campaign and help curb the rising rate of alcohol abuse among young Nigerians.

They reiterated that protecting children from harmful substances is a shared responsibility and a crucial step toward building a healthier and more secure nation.